Baton  Rouge,  Feb.  21,  1850j 


Sir — In  «ict,  appi j^ctTHaTgl^^ 

appointed,  imniediaJ^^^  after  its  passage,  J.  D.  B.  DeBow, 
Superintendent  of  bureau  of  Statistics,  created  by  the 
referred  to.  He  great  zeal  on  the  discharge  of  hi 

duties,  and  now  transiSS^^^2«i^^[^^^  his  First  I^eppr*on 

the  subject,  which  was  entrusted  to  Ills  dSli^e.  In  thi«xiiceresting 
^j;^iort,  and  in  researches  so  conducive  to  the^rosperity  of  our 
State,  Mr.  DeBow  has  displayed  all  the  ardouV,’ ability  and  patriot- 
ism which  I expected  from  his  well  known  character.  The  pre- 
^nt  report  embraces  the  action  of  the  Bureau  of  Statistics  for  t\n^ 
i^and  the  co-operation  of  other  States  in  the  ^^  ime  matter^, 
contains/ »\any  valuable  suggestions,  and  is  a mere  introductioil' 
a Reporjf  ofs^veral  hundred  pages,  now  in  course  of  preparation 
the  Officie,  anS  to  be  presented  at  the  next  session  of  the  Legis-' 
|ture.  T^-his  last  will  present  a map  of  statistics  upon  every  sub-!, 
let  conne/cted  with  tlie  soil,  population,  agriculture,  manufactures, 
►mmerc/*  and  internal  improvements  of  the  State  of  Louisiana, 

^nd  wilL^6  one  of  the  most  complete  records  of  the  kind  published 
by  an^  State  in  the  Union.  In  the  pre^ration  of  this  volume,  and 
as  a Contingent  fund  for  printing  circulars^Y^r  stationery,  postages, 
puriniases  and  copies  of  documents,  I recommend  that  the  sum  of 
Fi^e  Hundred  Dollars  be,  as  requested  by  the  Superintendent  in 
lis  Report,  granted  to  him  by  the  Leg^lature. 

Very  respectfully. 


CHARLES  GAYARRE, 

Secretary  of  State  of  Loumana. 


James  'D.  Bryce, 
mt  pro.  tera.  if  the  Senate. 


INTRODUCTORY 

TO  THE 

FIRST  REPORT  OF  THE  BUREAU  OF  STATISTICS, 

TO  THE 

LEGISLATURE  OF  THE  STATE  OF  LOUISIANA, 

JANUARY  1st.,  1850. 


This  office  having  been  established  by  the  Act  of  the  15th  March,' 
1848,  the  undersigned,  at  the  request  of  the  Secretary  of  State, 
consented  to  undertake  its  duties,  and  to  prepare  a report,  to  be 
presented  at  the  next  ensuing  Session  of  the  Legislature. 

The  terms  of  the  Act  require  a report  that  shall  embrace  “ in-  . 
formation  relative  to  the  population,  agricultural  and  other  pro- 
ducts, resources  and  commerce  of  the  State,  the  mechanic  arts, 
public  education,  public  health  and  manufactures,  and  such  other 
information  as  may  be  deemed  important,”  etc. 

It  was  evidently  the  intention  of  the  Legislature  to  obtain,  if 
practicable,  by  means  of  this  office,  a complete  statistical  record, 
from  year  to  year,  showing  the  progress  of  our  population  and  in- 
dustry, in  all  their  various  manifestations.  Such  a record,  if  pre- 
served for  a long  series  of  years,  would,  in  the  contrasts  admitted 
of  epoch  with  epoch,  and  our  own  with  other  States,  prove  an  in- 
valuable adjunct  in  legislature,  and  furnish  a mass  of  information, 
in  an  available  form,  for  the  use  of  every  class  of  citizens. 

The  field  being  wide  and  the  subjects  of  research  innumerable, 
the  undersigned  prepared,  immediately  after  his  appointment,  a 
circular  letter,  setting  out  inTull  the  objects  of  the  Bureau,  and  soli- 
citing in  its  aid,  observations  and  facts  from  all  sources.  A large 
number  of  these  circulars  were  forwarded  to  state  and  parish  offi- 
cers, members  of  the  Legislature,  and  leading  citizens  throughout 
the  State.* 

It  is  believed,  that  the  queries  propounded  in  the  circular  em- 
brace every  subject  of  interest  relating  to  the  soil  and  inhabitants 

*See  Appendix  No.  1,  for  circular. 

A 

727.519 


3 1 ’’I  . . D 
u i 5 ; 


Bureau  of  Statistics. 


of  the  State,  which  should  be  embodied  in  presenting  a complete 
statistical  report.  It  is  impossible  to  say  of  any  they  are  unimpor- 
tant, and  although  the  prospect  of  obtaining  information  upon  all, 
or  even  a majority  of  the  points,  is  remote,  omissions  could  only 
be  made  with  the  risk  of  falling  short  of  what  is  actually  attainable. 
Individuals  informed  upon  any  particular  point  in  the  circular,  it 
was  hoped  would  reply  to  that  in  exclusion  of  all  others,  whilst 
others,  having  the  time  and  ability,  would  make  a more  general 
response. 

To  some  extent,  the  office  has  been  disappointed  in  its  reasona- 
ble expectations.  Independently  of  the  general  indisposition  to  un- 
dertake labors,  and  more  especially  those  involved  in  statistics, 
voluntarily,  and  without  compensation,  as  the  experience  of  State 
and  Federal  officers  proves,  the  novelty  of  the  present  call  was 
likely  to  be  unfavorable.  It  could  not  be  known  clearly  and  cer- 
tainly, the  objects  of  the  Bureau,  and  its  minute  interrogations,  and 
without  this  knowledge,  co-operation,  to  any  extent,  was  hardly  to 
be  anticipated.  We  have  but  lately  begun  to  press  statistical  en- 
quiries in  any  part  of  our  country,  and  it  is  still  too  common  to 
sneer  at  their  results,  as  of  little  practical  value,  and  always  capa- 
ble of  proving  whatever  is  required  for  the  occasion.  This  objec- 
tion would  apply  wdth  equal  force  to  the  sciences  of  law,  medicine, 
theology  and  many  others,  which  is  suffi_cient  in  its  refutation. 
Without  facts,  to  proceed  upon  all  reasoning  must  be  unsatisfac- 
tory, and  legislation  result  rather  in  injury  than  good.  The  indus- 
try, habits  and  condition  of  a people  should  be  accurately  under- 
stood before  attempting  to  extend  or  improve  them.  No  State  has 
been  behind  Louisiana  in  the  negligent  manner  of  preserving  her 
records,  and  the  fact  of  her  population  and  industry,  and  the  result 
is,  that  no  state  has  had  more  contradictory  and  voluminous  legis- 
lation. To  implant  a new  principle  or  convince  the  understanding 
of  a whole  communityjr  upon  a matter,  almost  for  the  first  time 
brought  before  them,  involves  a revolution  requiring  both  time  and 
patience.* 

* The  importance  of  statistical  researches  to  all  classes,  and  more  especially  to  the 
legislator,  may  be  thus  succinctly  stated:  “To  the  agriculturalist,  it  is  interesting  to  know 
what  proportion  the  population  bears  to  the  number  of  acres  in  cultivation,  and  the  produc- 
tion of  the  soil,  so  as  to  regnlate  his  labor  and  economize  his  means — for  labor  is  wealth. 
To  the  merchant,  it  is  necessary  to  know  the  proportion  of  the  population  to  the  produce 
of  the  country,  the  imports  and  the  exports,  so  as  to  ascertain  the  consumption  and  the 
average  expenditure  of  each  family,  and  thereby  govern  his  enterprising  speculations.  To 
the  physician,  it  is  important  to  ascertain  the  proportion  of  the  births  to  the  deaths,  and  of 
each  of  these  to  the  aggregate  population,  as  well  as  the  respective  causes  of  death,  and  the 
effects  of  climate  on  diseases,  so  as  to  arrive  at  sound  deductions  respecting  the  nature  of 
complaints  peculiar  to  certain  countries,  and  to  certain  ages,  professions,  and  classes  of  the 
people  ; the  general  state  of  public  health,  and  other  important  points  connected  with  vital 


3 


Bureau  of  Statistics. 


There  is  soiiietliing  formidable  to  most  persons  in  a long 
array  of  figures,  and  many  are  disposed  to  smile  at  the  mi- 
nute labors  of  the  statistician  as  impracticable  and  useless.  Yet  , 
from  these  may  be  deducted  the  wisest  rules  in  the  government  of 
society  and  the  amelioration  of  man.  Those  who  will  not  give 
themselves  time  to  examine  a subject,  arc  the  speediest  to  condemn. 
One  readily  acquires  the  character  of  a cold  abstractionist  or  dull 
])lodder,  who  devotes  any  consideration  to  the  results  of  statistics. 
The  labor  is  almost  thankless,  and  must  be  endured  without  sym- 
pathy. The  South  has  thus  produced  scarce  a single  statistician, 
whilst  at  the  North,  the  number,  though  small,  is  continually  in- 
creasing. We  know  that,  to  make  an  able  report,  or  a convincing 
^ demonstration  in  Congress  or  in  the  departments  of  government 


statistics.  To  the  statesman  it  is  indispensable  to  know  the  number  of  the  population — 
their  wealth  or  poverty — their  increase  or  decrease — the  number  of  poor  in  comparison 
with  the  rich — the  number  of  laborers,  or  the  productive  part,  with  the  number  of  thinkers, 
or  the  unproductive  part — the  proportion  of  the  sexes — the  number  of  marriag^es — and  the 
general  state  of  public  morals,  so  as  to  enact  wise  and  just  laws  that  will  not  bear  heavier 
on  one  part  of  the  commnuity  than  another,  but  such  as  tend  to  prevent  vice  and  encourage 
virtue,  and  are  calculated  to  promote  the  welfare  and  equitable  government  of  the  whole. 
To  the  Philosopher  it  is  interesting  to  know  the  ratio  of  mortality  in  a comitry,  and  to 
trace  its  causes,  to  ascertain  the  number  of  marriages,  the  average  pioduceof  these  mar- 
riages, and  to  investigate  the  various  contingent  circumstances  which  affect  the  reproduc- 
tion of  the  species,  the  value  of  lives,  and  the  doctrine  of  probabilities,  and  thus  be  ena- 
bled to  calculate  the  epoch  when  any  given  population  would  double  itself,  and  a thousand 
other  matters  highly  important  and  interesting  to  an  inquiring  mind. 

“ Statistics,”  says  Mr.  Chambers  in  the  Edinburgh  Journal  of  Education,  “is  a science 
of  comparatively  late  date,  but  it  is  one  which  promises  to  be  of  considerable  service  to 
mankind.  Whatever  can  be  ascertained  by  taking  down  numbers  and  instances  and 
making  summaries  of  them,  may  be  said  to  be  a proper  object  for  this  science.  It  is  ge 
nerally  applied  to  such  matters  as  the  amount  of  population,  the  rate  of  mortality,  the 
progress  of  commerce  and  manufactures,  and  the  increase  or  diminution  of  crime.  The 
benefit  of  coming  to  correct  reckonings  about  these  matters  must  be  obvious,  but  we  shall 
cite  one  instance  to  make  it  quite  clear.  From  accounts  which  have  been  kept  of  burials 
in  England  for  the  last  fifty  years,  it  appears  that  the  rate  of  mortality,  or  number  who 
die  yearly,  in  comparison  with  the  whole  population,  diminish  regularly  down  to  1831, 
but  has  since  then  been  a little  on  the  rise,  showing  the  condition  of  the  people  at  large 
(mortality  depending  on  condition)  was  improving  until  that  time,  but  has  since  been 
slightly  declining.  When  such  a fact  as  this  is  ascertained,  statesmen  are  put  on  the  alert 
to  discover,  and  if  possible  remove  the  causes.  Thus  it  is  seen  a nation  may  be  much 
benefited  by  taking  a census,  and  keeping  of  a correct  register  of  deaths.  The  value  of 
statistical  operations  then,  is  manifest.  Statistics  may  be  said  to  be  the  account  of  a na- 
tion for  ascertaining  the  state  of  its  affairs.  One  which  keeps  no  statistical  records  may 
be  said  to  be  like  a merchant  who  does  business  without  keeping  a ledger  or  ever  coming 
to  a balance.  Statistics  bear  in  like  manner  upon  many  of  the  interests  of  private  life. — 
Of  this  we  trust  to  be  able  to  give  some  notable  instances  in  the  sequel.” 

The  science  of  statistics  is  thus  defined  by  Hazard  : “ The  science  of  statistics  is  of 
racmit  origin,  Archcnball,  who  was  born  at  Elbing,  in  Prussia,  in  1719,  and  died  in  1772 
was  the  first  who  gave  the  name  and  a scientifie  form  to  this  branch  of  knowledge.  His 
compend,  originally  published  in  1749,  went'through  seven  editions.  His  most  distinguished 
pupil,  Schlossa,  carried  out  his  views  still  further  in  the  excellent  yet  incomplete  ‘ Theory 
of  Statistics,’  printed  at  Gettingen,  in  1804.  In  1807  appeared  Newman’s  ‘ Outlines  of 
Statistics.’  In  the  systematic  and  compendous  treatment  of  this  subject,  Toze,  Remer, 
Meusel,  Sprengel,  Mannert,  Fischer,  and  especially  Hassell,  have  distinguished  them- 
selves. The  last-named  is  the  eminent  geographer.  In  Italy  there  are  tlie  well  knov.ui 
names  of  Balbi,  Quadri,  :ind  Gioja.  The  first  European  government  that  paid  any  atten- 


Bureau  of  Statistics. 


4 


nothing  is  more  important  than  to  be  possessed  of  the  facts  and 
figures  of  the  subject.  Hence  the  Government  begins  now  to  make 
the  most  elaborate  collections  and  returns,  and  sends  out  in  addi- 
tion to  the  decennial  census  blanks,  innumerable  circulars  to  every 
quarter  of  the  republic. 

The  undersigned  does  not  doubt,  that  in  the  future  history  of  this 
Bureau,  should  the  legislature  pursue  the  plan  of  publishing  its  an- 
nual reports,  a vast  amount  of  practical  information  will  be  furnished 
by  the  voluntary  responses  and  communications  of  citizens  in  all 
the  various  classes  and  pursuits.*  As  the  importance  of  the  matter 

tion  to  the  collection  of  statistics  in  a systematic  manner,  though  this  was  on  a limited 
scale,  was  Sweden. 

About  the  middle  of  the  last  century  a special  commission  was  employed  who  made 
known,  at  intervals  of  five  years,  many  interesting  facts  in  relation  to  the  population  of 
the  country,  etc.  Schlosser  having  called  attention  to  the  important  results  of  the  Swedish 
commission,  several  other  States  soon  entered  into  a similar  arrangement.  There  is  now 
a Statistical  Department,  or  what  is  termed  a “ Bureau”  in  connection  with  the  govern- 
ment of  Prussia,  Austria,  Bavaria,  Wurtemburg,  Naples  and  Sardinia.  At  the  head  of 
the  “ Bureau”  in  Berlin,  is  a gentleman  of  great  intelligence,  M.  J.  G.  Hoffman.  In 
1832  Lord  Auckland  and  Mr.  Poulett  Thompson,  who  then  presided  over  the  Board  of 
Trade  in  England,  established  a statistical  office  in  that  Department,  to  collect,  arrange, 
and  publish  statements  relating  to  the  condition  and  bearing  upon  the  various  interests  of 
the  British  Empire.  The  volumes  annually  printed  and  laid  before  Parliament  by  this 
office,  are  well  known  and  highly  esteemed.  In  the  year  1831  a Statistical  Society  was 
formed  in  the  kingdom  of  Saxony,  which  has  prosecuted  its  objects  with  great  energy  and 
success.  The  French  Society  of  Universal  Statistics  was  founded  on  the  22d  November, 
1829,  and  is  under  the  protection  of  the  king.  It  proposes  and  decrees  prizes,  grants, 
medals,  publishes  a monthly  collection  of  its  transactions,  and  maintains  a correspondence 
with  learned  bodies  in  all  countries.  The  Society  numbers  at  present  more  than  fifteen 
hundred  members,  French  and  foreign,  who  are  classed  into  titulary,  honorary  and  corre- 
sponding members.  The  subjects  about  which  the  Society  is  employed  are  arranged  into 
three  classes : First — Physical  and  descriptive  statistics,  embracing  topography,  hydrogra- 
phy, meteorology,  geology,  mineralogy,  population,  man  considered  physically,  hygiene 
and  the  sanitary  state.  Second — Positive  and  applied  statistics,  embracing  vegetables  and 
animal  productions,  agriculture,  industry,  commerce,  navigation,  state  of  the  sciences, 
general  instructions,  literature,  languages,  and  the  fine  arts.  Third,  Moral  and  Philoso- 
phical statistics,  including  the  forms  of  religious  worship,  legislative  and  judicial  power, 
public  administration,  finance,  the  military,  marine  and  diplomacy. 

The  science  of  statistics  may  be  considered  as  almost  a new  one  in  our  country,  it  has, 
nevertheless,  of  late  excited  much  attention,  and  we  see  from  the  reports  of  Congress  and 
of  State,  down  to  the  newspaper  press,  the  strongest  evidences  of  its  favor  and  progress. 
Such  a science  is  worthy  of  all  attention?  and  deserves  to  bo  introduced  into  our  schools 
and  colleges  as  it  is  into  the  merchant’s  counting  house  and  the  Legislative  halls,  as  an  in- 
dependent and  most  important  branch  of  sound  practical  education. 

* A large  part  of  the  information  obtained  b)'^  the  Federal  Government,  and  published 
m its  reports,  is  obtained  through  the  agency  of  circular  letters.  It  was  thus  Mr.  Walker 
published  from  the  Tre.asury  in  184fi,  a volume  showing  the  condition  of  our  industry, 
North  and  South.  His  circular  embraces  sixty  questions ; among  others,  “ Capital  in- 
vested in  Manufactures,”  “ Amount  in  Materials,”  “ Profits  on  Capital,”  “ Annual  quan- 
tity of  Manufactures,”  “ Persons  Employed,”  “Period,”  “ Rates  of  Wages,”  “Agricul- 
tural Products,”  etc.  It  is  thus  the  Patent  Office  is  enabled,  annually,  to  publish  its  volu- 
minous reports.  Circulars  are  sent  to  every  hamlet  in  the  nation,  and  the  returns  are 
digested  so  as  to  present  a thousand  pages  of  valuable  matter.  After  all,  however,  it  is 
only  from  the  decennial  census,  obtained  by  regular  and  salaried  agents,  that  precise  and 
accurate  results  for  the  whole  country  can  be  had. 


Bureau  of  Statistics. 


becomes  better  understood,  from  the  published  results,  the  fullness, 
minuteness  and  reliability  of  tbe  reports  will,  in  a higher  degree,  be 
secured.  At  the  same  time  to  rely  exclusively  upon  these  respon- 
ses, would  be  to  stop  very  far  short  of  that  excellence  to  which  the 
office  may  with  propriety  aspire. 

The  important  consideration  should  guide  our  movements,  that 
the  labors  undertaken  are  not  solely  for  the  benefit  of  a single 
State,  but  extend  their  influences  over  the  nation.  Louisiana  is 
one  only  of  a large  community  of  States,  distinct,  yet  intimately  de- 
pendant the  one  upon  the  other,  and  interested,  in  the  last  degree  in 
each  others’  welfare  and  progress.  These  States  have  a common 
government,  but  with  such  circumscribed  and  restricted  powers, 
and  so  far  removed  from  its  various  members,  that  the  information 
it  can  obtain  relating  to  these  members,  however  important  in 
influencing  its  action,  is  necessarily  meagre  and  defective.  The 
States,  themselves,  paramount  within  their  respective  limits,  by  their 
legislative  provisions,  official  collections  and  reports,  can  only  supply 
the  defect,  in  any  degree  worthy  of  the  subject,  and  were  they  but 
to  move  conjointly  in  the  matter,  each  organizing  a Statistical  Bu- 
reau, their  annual  reports,  condensed  and  digested  by  the  federal 
authorities,  would  furnish  a valume  of  practicable  and  reliable  sta- 
tistics which  no  country  in  the  world  has  ever  excelled,  and  whose 
value  would  be  beyond  calculation.* 

In  this  view  the  undersigned  enclosed  a copy  of  the  circular  pre- 
pared by  him  to  the  Secretary  of  State  of  each  State  in  the  Union, 
requesting  the  matter  to  be  brought  before  the  legislatures  at  an 
early  day,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  secure  the  desired  co-operation.  A 
copy  was  also  sent  to  the  Commissioner  of  the  Patent  Office,  at 
Washington,  together  with  a report  upon  the  organization  of  the 
Bureau,  and  the  general  statistics  of  Louisiana,  which  appears  in 
his  annual  volume  for  1848. 

It  is  gratifying  to  reflect  that  Louisiana  has  been  the  first  State 
in  the  Union  to  perceive  the  advantages  of  this  system,  and  attempt 
its  application.  Already  has  her  example  been  pointed  to  in  terms 
of  highest  commendation  and  suggested  for  adoption.  Though 
other  States  have  surpassed  her  in  the  number  and  extent  of  statis- 
tical publications,  she  alone  has  made  provision  for  a systematic 
and  permanent  office  of  statistics. 

* Our  Government  is  one  of  limited  powers,  and  we  ought  to  guard  against  their  ex- 
tension. It  should  not  come  down  too  often  and  too  closely,  and  pry  too  much  into  indi- 
vidual action.  Its  theory  is,  to  do  what  the  States  cannot  do  so  well.  But  who  shall  be 
So  generally  informed  or  so  capable  of  obtaining  all  the  necessary  information  in  the  mi- 
nutest details,  in  regard  to  the  circumstances  of  a people,  and  their  industry  as  the  State 
iteelf.  The  compass  being  small,  how  much  more  accurately  the  investigations.  The 
State  Government  is  the  natural  and  proper  repository  of  all  the  facts  relating  to  its  people 
and  it  is  met  with  no  obstacles  in  obtaining  them.  The  General  Government,  it  is  true, 
ehould  make  its  digests  from  the  State  Reports,  &c.,  &c. 


Bureau  of  Statistics, 


6 


In  his  report  of  January,  1848,  Hon.  Edmund  Burke,  Commis- 
sioner of  Patents,  remarks  : “I  have  been  informed  that  a hill  has 
been  introduced  and  is  now  pending  in  the  Legislature  of  Louisiana, 
providing  for  the  organization  and  establishment  of  a Bureau  of 
Statistics.  It  is  ardently  hoped  that  the  measure  may  be  carried, 
and  that  the  example  which  will  he  thus  set  hy  Louisiana,  result- 
ing from  an  enlightened  view  of  the  importance  of  her  great  inter- 
ests, agricultural  and  commercial,  will  he  speedily  followed-  hy  other 
States  of  the  Union — all  have  industrial  interests  of  sufficient  im- 
portance to  justify  the  establishment  of  such  a Bureau  in  their 
respective  governments.”  In  the  volume  for  1849,  language  still 
stronger  is  used  by  the  Commissioner.  “In  the  pursuit  of  its  sta- 
tistical investigations,  this  office  has  keenly  felt  the  want  of  means 
for  obtaining  accurate  and  reliable  information  concerning  the 
great  industrial  interests  of  the  country.  No  provision  has  been 
made  by  the  General  Government  for  obtaining  such  information 
except  in  relation  to  our  foreign  commerce,  and  but  very  few  of  the 
States  have  adopted  measures  for  obtaining  authentic  information 
in  relation  to  these  industrial  interests.  Massachusetts  and  Louisi- 
ana are  in  advance  of  most  other  States  in  their  legislation  upon  these 
subjects.  In  the  former  State,  very  full  returns  are  obtained  in 
short  periods  of  a few  years,  if  not  annually,  of  her  industry  and 
resources ; and  in  the  latter  a Bureau  of  Statistics  has  been 
established,  etc.,  etc.  A most  interesting  view  of  the  vast  resour- 
ces of  this  great  Republic  would  be  annually  exhibited,  if  all  the 
States  should  follow  the  example  of  Louisiana  and  Massachusetts. 
The  statesman  and  legislator,  to  whom  the  people  commit  the  des- 
tinies of  their  common  country,  would  then  have  at  their  hands 
ample  material  to  aid  them  in  the  intelligent  discharge  of  their  mo- 
mentous and  responsible  duties,  without  which  they  are  like  blind 
men  feeling  their  way  in  the  dark.” 

A special  committee  of  the  Legislature  of  South  Carolina,  in  the 
session  of  1848,  after  having  ably  shown,  in  a variety  of  instances, 
how  little  information  existed,  in  regard  to  the  resources  of  that 
State,  declare,  “There  are  facts  and  considerations  which,  properly 
exhibited,  would  prove  the  necessity  of  providing  some  such  organ- 
ization, as  would  lead  to  a correct  understanding  of  these  important 
matters ; and  the  insufficiency  of  the  matters  here  presented,  only 
serves  to  show  conclusively,  that  we  have  been  heretofore  neglectful 
of  those  means  of  information  which  are  calculated  to  elicit  correct 
apprehensions  of  our  advantages  and  duties.  We  know  not  how 
strong  we  are  at  some  points,  and  how  weak  we  are  at  others. 
The  appointment  of  such  a committee,  {i,e.  on  commerce,  agriculture 
and  mechanics,)  will  soon  lead  to  the  establishment  of  an  efficient 


7 


Bureau  of  Sta tidies. 


Bureau  of  STATfSTics,  which  will  be  the  means  of  collecting  and 
disseminating  statistical  information  touching  all  the  interests  of  the 
State,  of  the  most  valuable  kind.” 

Governor  Seabrook  in  his  Message  of  December  last  to  the  Le- 
gislature of  the  same  State,  says,  “To  ascertain  with  correctness 
the  resources  of  a country  which  a beneficent  Being  has  so  prodi- 
gally endowed,  is  among  the  paramount  duties  of  the  representatives 
of  the  people.  Their  development  and  improvement,  when  ascer- 
tained, might  properly  be  entrusted  to  the  people  themselves. 

“As  inseparable  from  the  enterprise,  should  the  wisdom  of  the 
Legislature  determine  to  prosecute  it,  I recommend  the  careful 
collection  of  Statistical  information  on  all  the  branches  of  in- 
dustry. by  the  possession  of  facts  and  materials,  lucidly  arranged 
and  methodised,  we  shall  be  furnished  with  complete  data  as  to  the 
present  state  of  the  population,  white  and  colored ; concerning  agri- 
culture, commerce,  navigation,  manufactures,  trade,  finance,  health, 
and  need  of  whatever  may  be  interesting  or  instructive  to  our  ci- 
tizen and  their  rulers.  Under  our  political  organization,  and  in 
the  condition  of  society  which  the  Southern  States  exhibit,  the  value 
of  this  knowledge  will  soon  become  manifest  and  duly  estimated. 
It  will  tend  materially  to  facilitate  many  of  the  most  important  duties 
of  the  public  functionary  ; enable  the  Legislature  to  adjust  and  re- 
gulate the  various  interests  of  society,  and  to  reduce  a chaos  of  de- 
tails, on  matters  requiring  their  action,  into  order  and  system.  Nor 
will  the  people  shemselves  be  less  benefitted.  To  know  all  that 
concerns  the  land  of  their  birth,  i&  a matter  of  pride  and  deep  in- 
terest.” 

The  suggestions  of  the  Governor  are,  we  understand,  soon  to  be 
carried  out,  and  a number  of  distinguished  citizens  of  the  State  have 
had  the  subject  in  consideration,  and  are  by  correspondence,  Ac.,  de- 
vising the  best  method  to  ensure  success.  The  State  has  already,  by 
a handsome  appropriation  secured  the  publication  of  the  reports  of 
her  central  agricultural  society  in  one  large  volume,  embracing  a 
vast  amount  of  information  relating  to  the  staples  of  cotton,  rice 
and  corn,  the  negro  population,  negro  laws,  soils,  minerals,  ma- 
nures, etc.,  etc. 

In  the  Legislature  of  Rhode  Island,  now  in  session,  a memorial 
was  referred  to  a select  committee,  but  a few  days  ago,  requesting 
the  appointment  of  a Superintendent  of  Statistics,  with  a sui- 
table salary,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  collect  all  the  information 
possible,  relative  to  the  population,  the  agricultural  and  other  pro- 
ducts of  the  State,  its  resources  of  every  description,  the  commerce 
of  the  State  with  sister  States  and  foreign  countries,  the  nature  and 
value  thereof,  the  mechanic  arts  and  manufactures,  public  educa- 


Bureau  uf  Sla/hiies. 


tion,  religion,  public  health,  and  such  other  inforination  as  may, 
froin  time  to  time,  be  required  of  him,  having'  a bearing  upon  the 
industrial  and  progressive  history  of  the  State.  The  author  of  the 
measure  in  a letter  to  the  undersigned,  compliments  in  handsome 
terms  the  action  of  Louisiana,  and  adds  that  Jlhode  Island  will  un- 
doubtedly co-operate. 

Massachusetts  is  far  beyond  every  other  State  in  the  pains  which 
she  takes  to  preserve  even  the  most  minor  particulars  relating  to 
her  population  and  industry.  It  is  to  this  that  we  may  attribute  in 
a degree  the  rapid  advances  of  that  commonwealth,  and  her  course 
should  serve  to  guide  each  of  her  sisters.  She  appropriates, 
annually,  large  sums  to  the  numerous  agricultural  associations 
within  her  limits,  in  aid  of  their  premiums  and  publications.  On 
the  table  before  me  are  a large  number  of  her  published  reports  and 
documents,  furnished  kindly  by  the  Secretary  of  State,  at  my  re- 
quest. A list  of  these  will  aid  us  in  understanding  the  system  she 
adopts,  and  perhaps  stimulate  our  own  efforts. 

No.  1. — Statistics  of  the  condition  and  products  of  certain  branches 
of  industry,  in  Massachusetts,  This  is  a volume  of  400  closely 
printed  pages,  mostly  figures,  published  in  1845,  prepared  from 
the  returns  of  the  assessors,  who  were  provided  with  blanks  by 
the  Secretary  of  State.  This  volume  is  admirably  complete,  and 
is  expected  to  be  followed  up  at  short  periods  by  similar  pub- 
lications. 

No.  2 — Abstract  of  the  Returns  of  Agricultural  Societies.  A 
volume  of  160  pages  made  up  from  the  returns  of  all  the  Agricul- 
tural Societies  in  the  State,  who,  as  a condition  precedent  to  the 
receipt  of  the  bounty  allowed,  must  report  annually  the  amount 
expended  by  them,  premiums  allowed,  reports  of  committees, 
names  of  officers,  addresses  delivered,  etc.,  etc. 

No.  3. — Abstract  of  Massachusetts  School  Returns,  containing 
336  pages,  and  published  annually  by  the  Secretary  of  State. 
This  volume  was  digested  by  the  Hon.  Horace  Mann  from  the' 
reports  of  the  School  Committees  in  all  the  309  towns  of  the 
State,  which  amounted  in  manuscript,  as  he  says,  to  5,500  closely 
written  pages,  and  is  very  full  upon  even  the  merest  details  of  her 
education  system. 

No.  4. — Insurance  Abstracts.  These  are  large  pamphlets  pub- 
lished annually  by  the  State,  giving  tbe  operations  of  every  incor- 
porated company,  from  returns  required  by  law. 

No.  I*.-^Bank  Abstracts.  Similar  annual  publications,  showing 
the  capital  of  every  bank  in  the  commonwealth,  circulation,  pro- 
fits, debts,  deposits,  resources,  dividends,  etc. 

No.  6. — Annual  Reports  of  all  Rail  Road  Corpoiations. 


Bureau  of  Statiatics. 


No.  7. — Annual  lleyorts  of  Lunaiic  Asylmn. 

No.  8. — Annual  Reports,  Births,  Marriages,  and  Deaths, 
These  are  volumes  of  125  to  150  pages  each,  and  are  prepared 
with  great  care  from  the  returns  made  by  the  Clerk,  etc.,  in  each 
of  the  towns  in  the  State.  Nothing  like  this  is  found  in  any  other 
State  of  the  Union,  and  the  general  deductions  made  from  the 
tables  have  high  influence  in  the  regulation  of  life  and  society.* 

Many  of  our  large  cities  have  been  equally  liberal  in  the  docu- 
ments prepared  and  published,  showing  the  progress  and  pursuits  of 
their  population.  Prominent  among  these  have  been,  Boston,  New 
York,  and  Charleston,  which  have  contributed  each  large  volumes 
of  statistics,  so  condensed  and  presented,  as  to  show  every  thing 
that  could  be  desired  in  every  department,  and  to  afford  the  highest 
and  best  evidence  of  the  actual  condition  of  the  people.  Nothing 
could  be  more  complete  and  admirable  than  these  volumes.  They 
furnish  as  it  were,  a map  of  the  operations  of  a city  from  the  ear- 
liest period,  down  to  the  moment  that  we  examine  them.  Should  it 
not  be  hoped  that  other  cities,  and  New  Orleans  in  particular,  the 
second  important  commercially  in  the  Union,  will  provide  for  simi- 
lar volumes,  by  public  appropriations.  It  affords  me  great  plea- 
sure to  say,  that  a movement  has  already  been  made  for  the  purpose 
by  Mr.  Jarvis,  a member  of  the  General  Council. 

Since  undertaking  the  duties  of  this  office,  the  undersigned  has 
been  addressed  from  many  quarters  of  the  Union,  in  regard  to  its 
organization,  and  has  answered  numerous  communications  solicit- 
ing information  concerning  the  industry  and  resources  of  the  State. 
To  the  National  Census  Board  he  addressed,  through  the  public 
prints,  a series  of  letters,  commenting  upon  a proposed  innovation 


* 111  the  last  report  Mr.  Shattuck  quotes  from  the  5th  Report  of  the  Registrar-General 
of  England. 

“The  census  has  been  taken  with  regularity  in  the  United  States  of  America,  but 
abstracts  of  the  Register  of  deaths  have  only  been  published  by  the  cities  of  Boston,  New 
York,  Philadelphia,  and  some  of  the  more  advanced  towns.  No  correct  life  table  can 
therefore  be  framed  for  the  population  of  America,  until  they  adopt,  in  addition  to  the  cen- 
sus, the  system  of  Registration  which  exists  in  European  States.  Since  tlie  English  Life 
Table  has  now  been  framed  from  the  necessary  data,  I venture  to  express  a hope,  that  the 
facts  may  be  collected  and  abstracted,  from  which  Life  Tables  for  other  nations  can  be 
constructed.  A comparison  of  the  duration  of  successive  generations  in  England,  France, 
Prussia,  Austria,  Russia,  America,  and  other  States,  would  throw  much  light  on  the  phy- 
sical conditiop  of  the  respective  populations,  and  suggest  to  scientific  and  benevolent  indi- 
viduals in  every  country,  and  to  the  government,  many  ways  of  diminishing  the  sutFerings, 
and  ameliorating  the  health  and  condition  of  the  people  ; for  the  longer  life  of  a nation 
denotes  more  than  it  does  in  an  individual — a happier  life — a life  more  exempt  from  sick- 
ness and  infirmity — a life  of  greater  energy  and  industry,  of  greater  experience  and  wis- 
dom. By  these  comparisons,  a noble  national  emulation  might  be  excited  ; and  rival  na- 
tions would  read  of  sickness  diminished,  deformity  banished,  life  saved — of  victories  over 
death  and  the  grave — with  as  much  enthusiasm  as  of  victories  over  each  other’s  armies  in 
the  field;  and  the  triumph  of  on©  would  not  be  the  humiliation  of  the  other;  for  in  hi& 
contention  none  could  lose  territory,  or  honor,  or  blood,  but  all  would  gain  strength.” 

B 


10 


Bureau  of  Statistics, 


upon  tlie  accustomed  method  of  obtaining  the  Census,  and  furnish- 
ing a variety  of  suggestions  and  data  relating  to  the  State  of  Loui- 
siana, and  to  the  general  interests  of  the  country.  These  letters 
drew  but  a response  from  the  Board,  and  it  is  believed  were  not 
without  influence,  in  producing  a change  of  plan,  and  securing 
for  the  South,  a system  likely,  in  the  result,  to  prove  much  more 
advantageous  than  the  oe  originally  contemplated.* 

Not  among  the  least  important  duties  of  the  Bureau  is  that  of 
replying  to  the  continued  application  of  State  and  federal  officers 
for  information  upon  particular  branches  of  industry,  and  particu- 
lar institutions,  &c.,  existing  among  us ; and  in  preparing,  from 
time  to  time,  such  tabular  exhibits  of  resources,  revenue,  expendi- 
tures, Asc.,  as  may  be  required  by  either  branch  of  the  Legislature. 
it  is  clear  that  these  duties  should  be  charged  upon  a special 
office.t 


* Census  Letters. — These  letters  discussed  elabarately  the  following  subjects: — Plan 
of  Census  enumerations,  mode  of  preparing  blanks,  whether  special  blanks  applicable  to 
the  several  States,  how  far  the  South  is  interested  in  these  blanks,  population  of  Louisiana, 
employment  population,  number  insane,  deaf  and  dumb,  educated  and  uneducated  in  the 
State,  investment  of  capital  in  Louisiana,  annual  product  of  industry,  capital  invested  in 
sugar  industry,  lands  and  levees  in  Louisiana,  importance  of  statistical  bureaus,  errors  in 
the  census  enumerations,  and  mode  of  amendment,  wages  of  labor,  cost  of  transportation, 
internal  improvements,  omissions  in  previous  censuses,  population  of  Russia  and  United 
States  contrasted,  statistics,  of  population,  history  of  census  enumerations,  analysis  of 
American  censuses,  pauperism  in  the  United  States,  population  of  native  and  foreign 
birth,  education  in  the  United  States,  at  the  South,  vital  statistics,  or,  statistics  births, 
marriages  and  deaths,  importance  of  such  data,  experience  of  European  nations,  «fec., 
&c.  The  references  to  all  these  matters  were  necessarily  brief.  In  return,  the  Census 
Board  thus  expresses  itself : “Were  the  board  furnished  with  letters,  equally  satisfactory, 
from  each  State  in  the  Union,  it  would  be  much  better  able  than  it  now  is,  to  arrive  at 
satisfactory  determinations,  &c..  The  importance  of  Bureaus  of  statistics  for  the  several 
States,  and  a general  bureau  of  statistics  at  the  seat  of  government  is  manifest  to  the 
mind  of  every  individual,  &c.  It  is  certainly  complimentary  to  the  State  of  Louisiana, 
that  she  has  been  the  first  to  establish  a regular  office  of  statistics,  &c.  The  official  or- 
gan also  noticed  the  series  of  letters^  as  follows: — “But  apart  from  their  strictures  upon 
the  plan  of  varied  blanks,  the  articles  derived  importance  from  the  amount  of  reliable 
statistical  information  they  contained  of  the  productions  and  resources  of  the  South,  and 
especially  of  that  portion  of  it  embraced  in  the  valley  of  the  lower  Mississippi.  Had  the 
invitation  of  the  board,  which  were  extensively  circulated  in  all  the  States  and  Territories, 
soliciting  information  upon  every  branch  of  production,  mineral  and  other  resources  pecu- 
liar to  each  section  of  the  Union,  been  generally  responded  to  in  the  same  spirit  and  with 
the  knowledge  displayed  in  these  communications,  the  plan  that  is  condemned  would  have 
been  much  easier  of  satisfactory  execution.  Had  the  other  States  bureaus  of  statistics,  with 
a chief  as  competent  and  willing  to  advance  the  ends  aimed  at  in  making  a census  as 
Louisiana  possesses,  the  general  object  of  the  board  would  have  been  greatly  promoted.” 

t A letter  from  the  commissioner  of  patents,  now  filed  in  the  Bureau  furnishes  an  ex- 
ample. To  answer  this  long  and  patient  investigation  is  needed  and  will  be  given.  The 
Commissioner  says,  “Endeavoring  to  trace  up  the  history  of  American  inventions,  and 
supposing  that  interesting  facts  may  be  hidden  in  the  archives  of  the  various  States, 
particularly  in  the  records  of  patents,  of  which  some  have  been  known  to  have  been 
granted  under  colonial  rule,  and  others  by  more  or  less  of  the  States  previous  to  their 
conceding  the  right  to  the  general  government,  I respectfully  request  to  be  furnished  with 
copies  of  any  such  documents,”  &c.,  &c. 


fh/rraii  of  ^talhlics. 


11 


The  lirst  ])ur|)os<^  to  be  accom[)lished  by  the  Bureau,  should  un- 
doubtedly b(5  tlie  ])reparatioii  and  ])ublication  of  an  elal)orate  re- 
port, extending'  back,  from  the  earliest  settlement  of  tlie  State, 
and  including'  every  ])articular  relative  to  its  population  and  wealth. 
Such  a re})ort  the  undersigned  has  had  in  view,  having  collected, 
and  being  still  engaged  in  collecting,  a variety  of  information  for  the 
purpose,  from  every  available  and  reliable  source — corresponden- 
cies, odicial  documents  and  reports,  historical  works,  local  records, 
files  of  newspapers,  &c. 

STATISTICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA, 

CONTRASTING  EACH  PERIOD  OF  HER  GROWTH,  AND  COMPARING  THE  RESULTS  WITH  THOSE 
PRESENTED  BY  THE  OTHER  STATES  OF  THE  UNION. 

PART  I. — Territory  and  Improvements. 

Date  of  discovery  and  settlement — origin  and  growth  of  parishes,  geographical  descrip- 
tions and  statistics  of  rivers,  mountains,  islands,  sea  coasts,  lakes,  etc. ; geological  structure, 
minerals,  forests,  natural  products  ; public  lands  and  land  system  ; lands  in  cultivation  ; 
arable  lauds,  pastures  etc  ; value  of  lands  and  productiveness  in  different  sections  ; lands 
capable  of  reclamation ; navigation  of  rivers  and  lakes,  character  of  harbors,  climates, 
meteorological  phenomena  and  diseases  ; internal  improvements,  railroads,  canals,  turnpikes, 
bridges,  levees  and  levee  system,  crevasses,  etc. ; facilities  of  communication,  statistics  of 
freights,  passages,  length  of  routes,  etc.  ;post  roads  and  post  offices,  etc. 

PART  II. — Population. 

Growth  of  population  from  settlement — colonial  population  ; analysis  of  census  1800, 
census  1810,  census  1820,  census  1830,  census  1840,  census  1850;  comparison  of  all  the 
censuses  ; insane,  idiots,  deaf,  dumb,  blind,  proportion  of  sexes,  marriages,  births,  deaths, 
old,  young,  productive,  unproductive,  paupers ; indians,  slave  and  free  negro  population  ; 
emigrants  ; foreign,  naturalized  and  native  population  compared  ; proportion  native  and 
foreign  origin  ; employments  of  population,  agricultural,  manufacturing,  commercial  ; phy- 
sical condition  people,  wages,  proportion  wealth,  relative  advances  different  classes 
population  ; education,  professions,  colleges,  schools,  societies,  libraries,  newspapers,  chari- 
ties, religious  sects,  statistics  of  education ; proportion  educated  at  home  and  abroad,  ex- 
penses of  education,  school  returns  and  appropriations,  etc  ; the  militia — pensions,  taxes, 
revenues,  expenditures,  debt ; representation  in  Congress  ; density  of  population  ; crimes, 
punishments,  penitentiaries,  condition  of  people  as  compared  with  other  periods  and 
States,  etc. 

PART  III. — Industry. 

Chapter  I. — AGRICULTU  RE  : growth  of  agriculture — improvements  in,  agricultur- 
al staples  with  their  progressive  increase  ; statistics  of  all  agricultural  products,  capital  and 
profits  in  agriculture,  produce  of  forests,  cattle,  stock,  wool,  poultry,  agricultural  societies 
and  publications,  application  manures,  agricultural  machinery,  probable  new  products, 
condition  of  agricultural  population,  etc 

Chapter  II. — MANUFACTURES:  character  of  manufactures,  statistics  of  all 
branches  of  manufactures,  comparative  progress  of  manufactures,  capital  in  manufac- 
tures, revenue  from,  per  cent,  profit  and  wages,  home  manufactures  consumed  or  exported, 
consumption  foreign  manufactures,  manufactures  capable  of  being  introduced. 

Chapter  III. — COMMERCE:  Imports  and  exports,  before  the  purchase  in  value, 
quantity  and  kind  ; imports,  exports,  etc.,  from  the  purchase  to  1812,  from  1812  to  1850, 
in  value,  quantity  and  kind ; progress  of  trade  with  each  contemporary  State  or  depen- 
dency, in  value,  quantity  and  kind  ; statistics  of  all  commercial  commodities ; customs, 
port  and  quarantine  regulations  ; chambers  of  commerce  ; conflicting  mercantile  systems 
of  the  States  ; bankrupt  system  ; money,  banks  ; trade  and  commerce  several  cities,  growth 
of  cities  ; navigation,  light  houses  ; new  proposed  markets,  comparison  with  other  Stales. 

Chapter  IV. — MISCELLANEOUS:  Including  a.  digest  of  the  back  rejiorts  of  the 
various  State  offices — auditors,  treasurers,  engineers,  land  offices,  etc,  general  statistics} 
A:c. 


i2 


Butwiu  of  Statutics. 


This  Report  which  will  occupy  a volume  of  three  hundred  close- 
ly printed  pages,  a large  }>art  l)eing  tabular  work,  on  the  plan  of 
the  Massachiiseti’s  documents,  is  respectfully  suggested  to  tlve  legis- 
lature for  publication.  In  preparing  it,  the  undersigned  would 
adopt  the  foregoing  plan,  adhering  as  closely  to  it  in  the  details  as 
possible,  and  neglecting  no  head  upon  which  there  shall  be  any 
chance  of  obtaining  reliable  data. 

There  is  something  peculiar  in  the  origin  and  progress  of  the 
population  of  Louisiana,  made  up  as  it  is  from  such  a mass  of 
heterogenous  sources,  and  living  to  so  great  an  extent  without 
amalgamation,  which  distinguishes  it  from  every  other  State.  It 
becomes  us,  as  far  as  possible  to  collect  the  fleeting  traditions  of 
this  population,  and  to  condense  for  ready  reference  whatever  facts 
may  be  illustrative  of  its  conditions  and  prospects.  The  liveliest 
interest  must  attach  to  the  subject,  viewed  in  whatever  light  we 
please. 

In  discussing  the  soils,  minerals,  natural  products,  etc.,  of  the 
State,  we  are  met  almost  at  the  first  step  by  the  criminal  deficiency 
of  information  which  exists  among  our  citizens. 

Scientific  surveys  of  the  State,  it  is  true,  were  conducted  a few 
years  ago  by  gentlemen,  liberally  compensated  by  the  Legislature, 
but  the  manuscript  reports  from  the  culpable  negligence  or  care- 
lessness of  parties,  it  is  difficult  to  say  who,  are  nowhere  to  be  found 
among  our  archives.  It  is  impossible  to  tell  how  much  the  State 
may  have  lost,  or  how  far  the  existence  at  that  time  of  an  office 
of  the  character  of  this  Bureau  would  have  protected  against  the 
contingency.  At  the  present  moment  we  know  literally  nothing  of 
the  geology  of  the  State. 

It  is  evidently  too  late  now  to  discuss  the  merits  of  geological 
explorations.  They  have  been  ordered  by  a large  number  of  the 
States  of  the  Union,  and  are  becoming  every  year  more  frequent 
and  thorough.  A bill  is  now  pending  before  Congress,  providing 
that  a portion  of  the  public  lands  within  the  States  be  appropriated 
for  this  purpose.  The  facts  elicited  in  the  prosecution  of  such  sur- 
veys are  essential  to  the  art  of  mining,  to  the  construction  of  roads, 
canals,  harbors,  buildings  and  to  the  improvement  of  agriculture. 
In  this  last  particular  they  are  chiefly  valuable.  Soils  consist  of 
organic  and  inorganic  ingredients — the  first  giving  rise  to  fertility, 
and  the  last  being  indispensable  in  all  improvements.  These  in- 
organic compounds,  whether  clay,  lime,  silicious  earths,  magne- 
sia, salts  of  iron,  manganese,  potash,  soda,  etc.,  etc.,  wherever 
greatly  deficient,  must  be  supplied,  and  to  do  this  a knowledge  of 
their  nature  and  character  becomes  necessary.  To  no  other  sci- 
ence in  so  high  a degree  is  agriculture  indebted  for  its  advances  as 
to  geology.  Its  successful  investigation  in  the  United  States  was 


Hureau  of 


Vi 


first  begun  in  1807  by  Mr.  McClure.  In  1814  DcWitt  Clinton 
urged  in  New  York  a geological,  inincralogical,  botanical,  zoolo- 
gical, and  agricultural  survey,  which  has  since  been  eftected,  and 
the  results  published  in  a inagnilicent  scries  of  quarto  volumes. — 
North  Carolina  has  the  merit  of  having  sent  the  first  geologist  into 
the  field — Professor  Olmstead,  whose  report  was  prepared  in  1825, 
South  Carolina,  Virginia,  Massachusetts,  and  many  other  States, 
have  followed  the  example,  and  the  science  is  now  being  introduced 
into  the  leading  Colleges  and  Universities  of  the  country. 

It  is  worthy  of  consideration,  whether  Louisiana  may  not  have 
it  in  her  power,  in  making  provision  at  any  future  time  for  the 
permanent  organization  and  establishment  of  her  new  University, 
to  perfect  a knowledge  of  the  State.  In  any  endowment  made  to 
the  institution,  a stipulation  might  be  inserted  that  the  professors 
of  geology  and  the  other  natural  sciences,  in  the  long  vacations  so 
necessary  in  this  climate,  be  required  occasionally  to  traverse  the 
State,  presenting  the  results  of  their  explorations  in  regular  syste- 
matic reports.  The  plan  is  entirely  practicable,  and  whilst  it 
would  increase  the  value  and  efficacy  of  the  institution,  would 
confer  incalculable  advantages  upon  the  State  at  large.  To  the 
University  should  belong  these  duties  ; and  it  would  be  but  carrying 
out  the  principle  now  urged  upon  Congress,  if  a considerable  part 
of  the  public  lands  lately  donated  to  the  State  should,  after  being 
reclaimed,  if  they  ever  are,  be  set  apart  as  a fund  for  the  perfor- 
mance of  this  work,  (including  observations  upon  the  general  hydro- 
graphy of  the  State,)  and  for  the  general  interests  of  the  Uni- 
versity. 

In  many  States  of  the  Union,  a multitude  of  facts,  concerning 
the  soil,  traditions,  localities,  and  population  are  brought  to  light 
and  published  through  the  operation  of  Historical,  Statistical, 
and  other  Societies,  scarcely  one  of  which  we  have  in  Louisiana. 
Twelve  years  ago,  it  is  true,  a few  of  our  citizens  formed  an 
historical  association,  which  fell  into  decay,  and  was  revived  within 
the  last  three  years,  by  electing  Judge  Martin  to  the  Presidency, 
and  afterwards  Judge  Bullard.  The  practical  operations  of  this 
society  have  been  chiefly  in  the  collection  of  books,  etc.,  in  which  it 
has  been  aided  by  the  Legislature,  withaview  to  future  usefulness. 
One  of  the  members,  John  Perkins,  Esq.,  of  New  Orleans,  now  in 
Europe,  in  the  most  liberal  and  intelligent  spirit,  has  had  a digest 
made  in  three  volumes,  two  of  which  have  been  received,  of  all 
the  documents  contained  in  the  various  departments  of  France 
relating  to  Louisiana,  and  donated  it  to  the  State  for  the  use  of  the 
Society.  In  a letter  to  the  undersigned,  on  forwarding  the  first 
volume,  he  says : “ I have  presented  through  you  to  the  Society, 
a summary  of  our  history,  embraced  in  one  large  quarto  volume  of 


14  Bureau  of  Statistics. 


500  jjages,  reaching-  down  to  1710.  1 must  ask  yonr  es]H^cial  ex- 

amination of  this  volume,  for  1 believe  it  will  be  found  to  contain 
matter  of  much  interest  that  has  never  yet  been  published.  The 
compilation  of  the  rest  of  the  documents  is  progressing,  and  I be- 
lieve that  by  next  fall  the  State  will  be  in  possession  of  a complete 
index  to  all  the  papers  in  any  of  the  French  archives  pertaining  to 
our  history.”  The  full  return  of  Mr.  Perkins’s  labors  will  be  found 
in  the  appendix  to  this  report, — See  appendix  2.* 

In  investigating  the  numerous  topics  connected  with  population 
our  progress  is  almost  entirely  impeded  by  the  total  neglect  of 
nearly  every  species  of  record  existing  among  us.  Careless,  as  has 
been  our  course  in  regard  to  the  statistics  of  wealth,  we  have  been 
infinitely  more  careless  in  those  that  pertain  to  life  and  mortality. 
In  vain  has  the  importance  of  a registration  system  of  births,  mar- 


* Historical  Societies  should  meet  with  encouragement  in  every  S<  ate.  By  their 
correspondence,  by  their  committees,  by  the  spirit  which  they  infuse,  by  the  interrogato- 
ries which  they  put  to  every  class  of  society,  they  rescue  from  oblivion  the  precious  results 
of  the  past  in  all  the  deportments  of  life.  They  collect  them — they  combine  them — they 
preserve  them,  and  hand  them  down  to  succeeding  generations,  consistent  records  in  the 
stead  of  vague  traditions.  The  Historical  Society  of  Massachusetts  has  published  8 volumes, 
of  Rhode  Island  5 volumes,  Connecticut  6,  New  York  8 or  10,  Pennsylvania  5,  Georgia 
2 volumes.  There  are  also  Societies  in  New  Jersey,  Maryland,  Virginia,  Tennessee, 
Ohio,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri,  &c.,  &c.,  to  which  add  as  somewhat  kin- 
dred, the  Antiquarian  American  Society,  National  Institute,  Smithsonian  Institute,  &lc. 
The  Louisiana  Historical  Society  has  in  preparation  a volume  of  proceedings,  &c.,  but 
has  published  nothing.  Many  donations  of  books  &c.,  have  been  made  to  it  by  Congresa 
and  the  State  Legislature.  It  has  yet  no  hall,  nor  regular  meetings.  This  Society  should 
press  the  collection  of  information  abroad,  relative  to  the  early  history  of  the  State,  as 
has  been  done  successfully  by  other  Societies,  particularly  those  of  New  York,  Georgia, 
and  Massachusetts.  The  Legislature  has  appropriated  ^2,000  for  a search  of  Spanish  re- 
cords now  being  conducted  and  appropriated  ; about  ^1,000  more  for  a volume  of  trans- 
cripts brought  over  from  Franco  by  one  of  our  citizens.  Mr.  Forstall  made  some  years 
ago,  and  published  an  index  of  the  most  important  French  papers  (Reprinted  in  Commer- 
cial Review  for  1846).  Mr.  Perkins,  Secretary  of  the  Historical  Society,  at  his  own  pri- 
vate expense,  which  was  very  considerable,  as  we  have  remarked  above,  has  sent  over 
several  large  volumes  in  manuscript,  being  an  index  of  all  the  papers  of  every  kind  re- 
lating to  the  State  in  any  of  the  offices  or  libraries  of  the  French  government,  and  esti- 
mates that  complete  transcripts  of  the  whole  could  be  had  for  about  ^6,000.  As  our  State 
advances,  it  will,  perhaps,  be  deemed  expedient  to  bring  over  these  papers.  Indeed,  this 
should  1)0  their  depository. 

Two  years  ago,  Mr.  Vattemere,  an  intelligent  and  philanthropic  foreigner,  presented  to 
the  Historical  Society,  and  to  the  State,  many  valuable  works  relating  to  France,  its 
agriculture,  commerce,  manufactures.  The  Governor  called  attention  to  this  donation, 
but  it  has  never  been  met  with  any  appropriate  return.  As  it  is  well  known  that  Mr. 
Vattemere  is  devoting  his  life  to  the  groat  purpose  of  promoting  exchanges  of  pub- 
lications between  the  nations  of  the  world,  thus  increasing  their  comity,  and  has  brought 
over  and  distributed  many  thousand  volumes  among  the  dilFerent  States,  taking  back,  ]>er- 
haps,  as  many  in  donations  from  these  States.  It  becomes  us  not  to  be  behind  hand  in  a 
liberal  co-operation.  It  is,  therefore,  suggested  that  the  Legislature  order  an  appropria- 
tion of  a few  hundred  dollars  to  be  expended  by  the  Secretary  of  State  in  the  purchase  of 
works  relating  to  Louisiana,  or  her  industry,  and  a donation  of  duplicates  of  some  of  our 
publications  lor  the  purpose  of  reciprocating,  and  of  promoting  Mr.  Vattemere’s  agency. 
A small  sum  would  also  be  necessary  to  reimburse  the  expenses  of  that  gentleman. 


Bureau  of  Statistics. 


15 


riai>  cs  and  deaths,  been  pressed  by  Statisticians  in  every  part  of  the 
Union,  by  coniniittees  of  medical  associations,  by  the  late  National 
and  State  Medical  Convention,  &c.  The  public  mind  will  not  be 
brought  to  an  appreciation  of  its  value  and  influence.  Massa- 
chuskts  still  remains  the  only  State  in  the  Union  which  has 
successfully  set  up  such  a system,  in  imitation  of  Great  Britain  and 
others  of  the  more  advanced  European  powers.  Several  of  our 
States  have  evinced  a disposition  to  be  active,  and  New  York,  it 
is  believed,  has  even  passed  a registration  law.  In  Louisiana,  at 
different  periods,  we  have  had  enactment  upon  enactment.  That 
of  1811  makes  the  parish  judges,  recorders,  with  a special  recorder 
in  New  Orleans.  The  act  of  1819  fixes  a penalty  for  not  re- 
cording in  New  Orleans.  There  have  been  several  other  legisla- 
tive provisions,  but  what  have  been  the  practical  results  of  the 
whole  ? * 


* Vital  Statistics  and  Registration  Laws. — Even  the  little  that  our  registration 
laws  have  effected  is  not  in  an  available  form.  There  may  be  much  of  value  scattered 

through  the  records  of  the  late  parish  judges.  The  registrar  at  New  Orleans  preserves 

many  volumes,  but  to  digest  anything  of  value  from  them  would  require  very  great  labor. 
In  the  office  of  the  Charity  Hospital,  Board  of  Health,  Parish  Churches,  &c.,  exist  an 
immense  amount  of  information,  useless  in  its  present  shape,  but  capable  of  being  gene- 
ralized. So  indeed  as  to  other  offices.  In  most  of  the  Northern  States  are  published  annual 
statements  of  commitments,  crimes,  punishments,  vagrancy,  pauperism,  digested  from 
the  returns  of  Jails,  Prisons,  Penitentiaries,  Courts  of  Justice,  &c.  What  a volume  of  light 
do  these  shed  upon  the  condition  of  a people,  and  what  important  improvements  suggest. 
The  ^ame  remark  of  public  hygiene.  We  have  no  meteorological  observations  by  public 
authority,  though  there  are  tables  in  existence,  kept  in  various  parts  of  the  State  by  private 
individuals,  running  back  for  many  years  from  which  much  might  be  condensed.  Some 
years  ago  Dr.  Barton  suggested  a medical  commission  to  report  upon  the  sanitory  condi- 
tion of  every  part  of  the  State,  in  order  to  correct  many  of  the  erroneous  impressions 
afloat,  and  lead  to  an  amelioration  of  the  public  health,  so  infinitely  more  important  than 
the  public  wealth.  It  was  then  recommended  to  be  made  a part  of  the  duty  of  the  Sur- 
geon-General, of  the  State,  to  prepare  such  a report.  In  the  establishment  of  a perfect 
registration  system  of  births,  marriages,  and  deaths.  Great  Britain  and  Massachusetts  have 
taken  the  precedence  of  all  other  governments.  The  Registrar-General  of  the  former  has 
published  seven  or  eight  large  volumes,  which  should  be  obtained  for  our  State  library ; and 
the  Secretary  of  the  latter  has  published  voluminous  systematical  returns  already  referred 
to,  annually,  since  1841  or  2.  The  late  medical  convention  of  the  United  States  memo- 
rialized Congress,  and  the  State  government  on  the  subject.  The  medical  convention  of 
South  Carolina,  and  Louisiana,  have  ordered  a similar  memorial. 

Before  preparing  this  report  the  undersigned  addressed  a letter  to  Dr.  E.  N.  Barton,  of 
New  Orleans,  long  known  among  us  for  his  devotion  to  Vital  Statistics^  and  received  in 
reply  a letter,  from  which,  for  their  great  interest,  he  begs  leave  to  extract  the  following 
passages : 

“There  can  be  no  known  advancement  without  we  are  first  made  acquaintfid  with 
our  actual  condition  it  is  evident.  All  this  has  been  so  eminently  proved  in  relation  to 
this  city,  that  I only  need  to  hint  a few  of  the  facts  to  your  intelligence  and  the  whole 
truth  will  start  from  the  canvass  in  the  most  glaring  colors:  The  United  States  census 
takers  for  1840  gave  us  a population  of  about  27,000  more  than  ive  actually  had,  but  as 
the  mortality  was  not  added  in  a similar  ratio,  it  made  us  by  the  Bobadil  method  of  com- 
putation, the  healthiest  city  in  the  Union.  And  some  of  our  writers  have  since  calculated 


16 


Bureau  of  Statistics, 


It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  remark  that  our  registration  system  has 
been  entirely  inoperative  for  any  of  the  purposes  advocated  by 
vital  economists.  Louisiana  is  peculiarly  interested  in  health  and 
mortuary  statistics,  as  it  is  believed  that  no  State  in  the  Union  has 
suffered  more  from  erroneous  impressions,  and  misrepresentations 
that  have  ^one  abroad,  w^hich  vre  ourselves  have  not  the  means  to 
correct.  Were  the  facts  even  against  us,  a faithful  exhibit  of  them 
would  tend  in  the  result  to  improve  our  sanitory  condition.  The 
experience  of  all  countries  preserving  such  records,  shows  a mark- 

our  mortality  as  one  in  fifty-eight,  a ratio  of  salubrity  far  exceeding  any  city  in  America, 
and  probably  in  the  world  ! while  our  actual  mortality  is  more  than  double  that.  You 
see  then  that  a misstatement  is  as  bad — nay,  worse — than  none,  for  here  is  an  official 
statement  presumed  to  be  entitled  to  confidence  from  which  deductions  have  been  drawn 
off  our  actual  situation  ; had  the  facts  been  known  and  constantly  so  for  thirty  or  forty 
years  back  of  the  real  mortality  of  this  city,  and  you  know  how  much  I have  labored  to 
procure  them  for  the  last  fifteen  years,  it  would  be  a poor  compliment  to  this  intelligent 
people  to  suppose  that  the  causes  of  that  mortality  would  not  long  since  have  been  inves- 
tigated— pointed  out  and  remedied,  and  the  city  would  now  be  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  sa- 
lubrity it  only  had  through  a fiction.” 

“The  importance  of  a knowledge  of  the  health  of  a community  is  only  second  to  the 
health  itself.  The  amount  of  information  from  reliable  sources  that  exists  upon  this  sub- 
ject in  America  is  exceedingly  small — in  fact,  out  of  the  large  cities — Massachusetts  ex- 
cepted, and  presently  New  York — there  are  no  statistics  of  the  sanitary  state  of  the  country 
any  where  to  be  found,  excepting  detached  monographs  in  the  medical  journals  ; nothing 
really  but  prejudiced  assertion ; and  this  assertion  is  pro  and  con,  either  of  them  widely 
separated  from  the  truth.” 

“ The  general  information  in  relation  to  the  health  of  particular  sections  of  our  Union 
is  entitled  to  very  little  reliance — the  specific  facts  which  properly  claim  confidence  do 
not  exist,  and  it  will  doubtless  be  a long  time  before  the  States  will  authorize  them.  I 
stated  above  that  such  information  was  confined  to  the  largo  cities.  I might  have  added 
to  the  large  cities  of  the  sea-board.  In  the  West — in  Pittsburg,  Cincinnati,  Louisville,  St. 
Louis,  the  interior  everywhere — there  are,  so  far  as  I have  been  able  to  ascertain,  by  ac- 
tual visits  and  an  extensive  correspondence  and  inquiry,  no  records  at  all  ! As  to  the 
entire  South,  there  are  very  few.  In  Maryland  one,  (in  Baltimore,)  throughout  Virginia 
one  only,  (at  Norfolk,)  in  the  Carolinas  one,  (and  an  excellent  one,  at  Charleston,)  in 
Georgia  one,  (at  Savannah,)  in  Alabama  one,  (at  Mobile,)  in  Louisiana  ozie,  (at  New 
Orleans,)  in  Mississippi  one,  (at  Natchez,) — in  their  interiors,  none  ! None  in  the  entire 
West,  so  far  as  I have  been  able  to  ascertain.” 

“The  importance  of  a registry  law  to  a political  community  may  be  compared  to  the  value 
to  an  individual  knowing  the  state  of  his  health  and  of  his  affairs  ; a man  who  takes  no 
note  of  these  may  be  ruined  before  he  knows  it.  So  a body  politic,  that  is  ignorant  of  its 
condition — of  a prosperous  or  adverse  state  of  its  affairs — of  what  may  advance  the  one  or 
remedy  the  state  of  the  other — may  be  actually  retrograding  while  it  is  supposed  to  be 
thriving,  and  may  be  suffering  while  in  reach  of  all  the  gifts  of  fortune.  This  would  bo  the 
more  obvious  if  this  was  the  general  belief  throughout  the  world  ; but  the  state  of  foreign 
and  conterminous  countries  are  constantly  being  made  known,  constituting  statistical  infor- 
mation: the  wants  and  the  sources  of  supply  are  constantly  being  published,  and  the  ba- 
lance struck : — in  fact,  the  limit  to  the  advantages  of  a people  becoming  acquainted  with 
their  condition,  is  about  as  boundless  as  the  wants  of  man,  for  thus  only  can  it  bo  bettered, 
(about  as  strong  a feeling  in  America  as  in  any  other,)  and  some  may  extend  it  to  all  hu- 
man knowledge,  and  a reference  to  the  relative  condition  of  nations  will  show  that  their 
prosperous  or  adverse  condition,  indeed,  their  elevation  in  the  scale  of  intelligence  is  in  a 
great  measure  dependent  upon  an  enlightened  knowledge  of  their  own  condition  and  wants, 
and  of  those  of  other  parts  of  the  world  wheiiee  they  may  supply  their  wants.” 

“ This  kind  of  knowledge  of  our  actual  condition,  and  the  short  stop  resulting  to  the  de- 
velopment of  our  capacity,  is  more  wanting  in  the  South  than  in  any  part  of  our  widely 


Bureau  of  Statistics. 


17 


ed  amelioration  of  society,  diminution  of  disease,  and  extension 
of  t!ie  average  period  of  life.  The  physical  condition  of  man  has 
im[)rovcd  in  equal  pace,  with  a knowledge  of  the  causes  affecting 
him,  and  their  degree  of  intenseness  in  different  localities.  There 
can  he  no  question  either,  that  “ the  white,  black,  and  other  races, 
present  peculiar,  moral,  and  physical  characters,  which  should  not 
he  overlooked  by  the  statesman,  whose  legitimate  aim  can  only  be 
the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  all  nations.”  We  are  strikingly 
deficient  in  knowledge  of  the  black  and  colored  population,  although 
living  among  us  for  nearly  three  hundred  years.  Investigations, 
notwithstanding  their  importance,  have  never  been  made  in  this 
field,  until  within  a very  few  years.  Is  it  true  that  the  negro  is  long 

extended  country.  And  how  much  has  she  lost  and  is  losing  politically,  and  in  every  ele- 
ment of  prosperity,  from  a want  of  a suitable  knowledge  of  her  condition  and  capacity  ? 
With  the  best  climate,  the  richest  soil,  the  finest  water  power,  and  mineral  wealth  inex- 
haustible, she  constantly  sees  her  poorer  and  less  advantageously  situated  sisters  in  the 
inhospitable  climates  of  the  North,  far  outstripping  her  in  every  element  of  wealth,  prosperity 
■'nd  power.  This  is  a sacred  duty  we  owo  to  ourselves  to  aid  in  every  way  to  developo 
our  resources,  to  exhibit  the  true  sanitary  condition  of  our  country,  and  the  immense  ad- 
vantages the  South  offers  to  the  emigrant  to  add  his  stores  to  ours,  and  with  united  indus- 
try to  make  her  fair  fields  the  very  garden  of  the  confederacy.  One  of  the  most  important 
is  to  remove  the  bugbear  in  relation  to  the  effect  of  the  climate  on  health,  the  actual  facts 
of  the  ratio  of  death  to  population,  the  average  of  death  and  the  small  portion  of  time  em- 
braced in  the  confinement  of  sickness  in  the  interior  of  this  State  would  stagger  credulity 
itself,  as  might  bo  made  apparent,  were  this  the  place  to  publish  some  tabular  statements, 
I have  prepared  (for  another  purpose)  to  exhibit  the  comparative  health  and  longevity  of 
our  people  and  the  larger  proportion  of  population  wo  possess  of  the  productive  age  than  of 
any  country  known.  ” 

“ Various  parts  of  the  United  States  are  avoided  on  account  of  supposed  insalubrity,  as 
part  of  this  State,  when  it  is  now  well  known  to  us  that  those  very  portions  are  amongst 
the  healthiest  in  the  Union.  And  again,  all  agricultural  countries  are  sickly  when  first 
opened  and  settled,  and  become  healthy  soon  after  the  countr}^  becomes  cleared,  cultivated 
and  subdued  to  the  purposes  of  man.  Such  is  eminently  the  fact  with  regard  to  the  long- 
settled  parts  of  the  Southern  States,  while  countries  and  cities  supposed  to  be  healthj'’ have 
been  found  by  examination  and  statistical  records  to  be  far  the  reverse.  Such  has  been 
found  to  be  the  fact  with  Liverpool,  which  was  deemed  one  of  the  healthiest  towns  iu 
England  before  its  real  condition  was  made  knowm  through  the  registration  la'ws,  wlien  it 
was  actually  found  to  be  one  of  the  most  sickly  ! The  alarm  was  sounded  and  an  im- 
mediate examination  instituted  into  the  cause,  when  it  was  ascertained  that  about  20,000 
of  its  population  lived  more  like  reptiles  than  human  beings — burrowing  in  the  ground  in 
damp,  dirty,  dark  cellers,  opening  into  blind  alleys,  &c.,  and  the  mortality  was  about  one 
in  seventeen  or  eighteen,  I think.  A reform  was  at  once  instituted,  with  a gain  in  average 
life,  in  a few  years,  of  about  ten  years.  Similar  facts  have  occurred  in  various  parts  of 
England,  and  also  in  Massachusetts.” 

“ But  this  is  not  all.  Various  parts  of  our  widely  extended  country  have  their  special 
liabilities  to  particular  forms  of  disease.  Individuals  and  their  families  have  also  their  pre- 
dispositions to  special  affections.  These  peculiarities  can  be  worn  out  and  gotten  rid  of  en- 
tirely by  removing  from  one  part  where  they  are  very  liable  to  occur,  and  do  produce  great 
mortality,  to  other  portions  where  they  are  almost  unknown.  For  instance,  there  are  somo 
portions  of  our  country  where  pulmonary  affections  are  very  rare,  and  particularly  that 
opprobia  medicorum,  consumption,  and  other  portions  where  they  take  off  near  twenty-five 
per  cent,  of  the  entire  mortality.  A knowledge  of  this  fact  is  of  the  last  importance  to  in- 
dividuals and  families  who  have  inherited  the  phthysical  diathesis,  and  so  of  many  other 
forms  of  disease  which  I need  not  specify.  Then,  again,  countries  change  in  their  liabili- 
ties to  particular  diseases,  and  these  facts  can  only  be  made  known  through  accurate  re- 
cords worthy  of  confidence,  at  successive  periods,  ” 


18 


Bureau  of  Slatislics. 


lived  at  the  South,  and  the  reverse  at  the  North,  whilst  the  mulat- 
to is  always  short  lived,  and  never  prolific?  Is  not  the  real  merit 
of  the  slave  question  involved  in  the  physical  characteristics  of  the 
races,  and  in  discussing  it,  are  not  the  facts  of  births,  average  lives, 
diseases,  longevity,  deaths,  increase,  vital  force,  &c.,  respectively 
at  the  North  and  the  South  in  freedom  or  in  slavery,  equally  if  not 
more  important  and  decisive  than  the  admonitions  of  St.  Paul,  or 
the  laws  of  Moses?  We  want  facts,  full,  minute  and  reliable, 
upon  every  feature  of  this  subject  ? 

In  these  exciting  times  when  fanaticism  run  riot,  endangers  the 
existence  of  the  Union,  it  becomes  the  South  to  be  furnished  with 
a reason  for  her  faith.  We  have  almost  universally  neglected  the 
statistics  of  our  negro  population.  The  North,  so  minute  in  other 
respects,  is  silent  here.  Can  we  tell  from  their  tables  how  far  free- 
dom proves  favorable  to  the  vitality,  morals,  or  physical  comfort  of 
the  negro  ? Is  there  not  reason  to  believe,  from  the  little  we  are 
allowed  to  know,  that  amid  all  the  cant  of  universal  freedom  he  is 
there  short-lived,  vicious,  depraved,  and  wretched  in  the  last  de- 
gree ? On  the  other  hand,  under  slave  laws,  is  not  the  very  re- 
verse in  every  respect  exhibited.  We  call  again  for  facts,  and  they 
are  within  our  reach.  The  most  overwhelming  evidence  is  in  the 
power  of  the  South,,  with  an  ordinary  degree  of  pains.  It  is  time 
to  go  further  into  these  matters  than  mere  general  statements.  “I 
think  we  may  safely  conclude,”  says  Dr.  Nott,  of  Mobile,  “that  the 
Negro  attains  his  greatest  perfection,  physical  and  moral,  and  also 
his  greatest  longevity  in  a state  of  slavery.  The  colored  popula- 
tion of  Charleston  show  not  only  a lower  rate  of  mortality  than 
any  laboring  class  of  any  country,  but  a lower  mortality  than  the 
aggregate  population,  including  nobility  of  any  country  in  Europe, 
&c.,  &c.”  Again,  “I  have  said  enough  to  make  apparent  the 
paramount  importance  of  negro  statistics.  If  the  blacks  are  in- 
tellectually inferior  to  the  whites — if  the  whites  are  deteriorated  by 
amalgamation  with  the  blacks — if  the  longevity  and  physical  per- 
fection of  the  mixed  race  is  below  that  of  either  of  the  pure  races, 
and  if  the  negro  is  by  nature  unfit  for  self-government ; these  are 
grave  matters  for  consideration.”  “Perhaps,”  says  Dr.  Ginor,  phy- 
sician, in  charge  of  the  Eastern  Penitentiary  of  Pennsylvania, 
“the  most  striking  disproportion  is  between  the  white  and  colored 
deaths.  If  my  experience,  <fcc.,  justify,  I would  say  without  hesi- 
tation it  is  owing  entirely  to  the  utter  neglect  by  the  latter  of  the 
necessary  means  of  preserving  health,  extreme  sensuality,  &c. 
This  opinion  I believe  myself  in  possession  of  sufficient  facts  to 
substantiate.”  These  are  but  facts  from  a volume  of  testimony.* 

* In  a very  late  Report  of  the  Prison  Society,  published  in  the  Philadelphia  Lodger, 
we  learn,  in  that  City,  that  an  analysis  of  tables,  kept  for  nineteen  years,  proves  a diffo- 


Hiireau  of  StadsHrs. 


19 


A history  of  the  education  system  of  Louisiana  would  he  pregnant 
with  much  instruction.  We  have  not  been  deficient  in  liberality, 
and  yet  the  fruits  of  all  our  efforts  are  altogether  unsubstantial. 
How  many  prominent  Louisianians  have  ever  been  educated  ai 
home,  though  upon  schools  and  colleges  the  State  has  expended 
untold  thousands  ? Should  we  not  have  some  record  of  this  history 
the  extent  of  these  appropriations,  and  some  approximations  to  tlie 
actual  results  ? Let  us  preserve,  too,  in  figures  the  workings  of 
our  new  system  in  digested  tables  from  the  annual  reports  of  the 
State  Superintendent.  It  can  only  be  made  popular  with  the  peo- 
ple by  dissiminating  knowledge  in  regard  to  its  workings. 

The  agriculture  of  Louisiana  is  almost  her  chief  reliance  and 
source  of  opulence.  In  proportion  to  population  the  total  of  her 
annual  crop  exceeds  that  of  any  State  of  the  Union,  and  she  is, 
perhaps,  the  richest  of  them  all.  The  statistical  results  of  this 
agriculture  must  be  very  important,  involving  all  the  considerations 
of  products,  prices,  and  profits,  how  far  they  have  influenced  each 
other,  and  how  far  labor  has  been  by  the  advancement  of  science 
rendered  more  and  more  productive.  Such  tables  should  go  back, 
very  far,  marking  the  advent  and  progress  of  new  staples,  and  the 
decline  and  abandonment  of  old  ones.  There  has  been  an  occasi- 
onal publication  from  a private  source,  showing  in  the  particular  of 
sugar,  the  individual  and  aggregate  crops,  which,  with  all  its  de- 
fects is  very  valuable.  The  extent  of  the  cotton  crop  is  difficult  to 
be  inferred  without  much  patient  calculation,  and  few  can  make  a 
tolerable  approximation.  It  is  important  to  know  how  far  sugar 
is  substituting,  or  is  likely  to  substitute  cotton.  We  have  rice 
lands  in  almost  unlimited  extent,  capable  of  rivaling  those  of  Ca- 
rolina, and  their  yield  is  even  now  considerable.  If  the  State 
should  diversify  her  industry,  here  is  a source,  almost  unheeded,  ol* 
future  wealth.  Useful  facts  could  readily  be  embodied.  Again, 
tabular  statements  of  the  expense  in  maintaining  slaves,  the  rela- 
tive production  and  cost  of  slave  and  free  labor,  the  value  of  slaves 
at  different  periods,  their  increase,  &c.,  have  a high  degree  of  in- 
terest. So  also  of  the  value  of  lands,  in  different  sections  of  the 


rence  of  13.14  in  the  hundred,  between  the  deaths  of  whites  and  colored  inmates  of  pri 
sons,  &c.,  &c.  In  other  words  there  are  four  blacks  to  one  white  that  die  in  prison,  and 
in  the  community  not  quite  two  to  one.  “It  is,”  says  Dr.  Nott,  in  his  able  lectures  on  the 
Physical  History  of  Man,  “ capable  of  demonstration,  that  in  all  our  Atlantic  and  North 
Western  States,  the  mulattoes  are  less  prolific,  less  hardy,  shorter  lived,  more  liable  to 
premature  births,  and  are  in  every  respect  physically  inferior  to  either  the  pure  whites  or 
blacks,  and  further  that  the  mulattoes  descended  from  the  pure  white  and  black  races  are 
true  hybrids,  which  would  become  extinct  if  left  alone  to  propagate  among  themselves, 
&c.,  &c.  When  we  come  further  South,  as  at  Pensacola,  Mobile,  and  New  Orleans, 
this  law  becomes  much  modified,  and  we  find  a class  of  mulattoes  who  are  long  lived, 
more  hardy,  more  prolific,  and  in  every  respect  much  superior  to  those  of  the  North. — 
These  are  of  the  mixed  negroes  and  Celtic  blood,”  &c. 


20 


Bureaih  of  Statistics. 


State,  and  their  productiveness,  swamp  lands,  lands  in  cultivation 
or  unreclaimed,  public  lands  and  their  administration,  &c.  Then 
there  are  a multitude  of  facts,  in  regard  to  the  extent  and  cost  of 
the  levee  system,  the  loss  by  crevasses  and  their  periods,  the  ope- 
rations, as  far  back  as  can  be  had,  of  the  internal  improvement 
system  of  the  State,  which  has  taken  place  already  among  its  most 
costly  and  cumbrous  machinery,  and  bids  fair  to  play  even  a more 
important  part  in  the  future.* 

Had  Louisiana,  like  most  of  her  sister  States,  agricultural  asso- 
ciations, it  would  be  easy  from  their  reports  and  documents  to  cull  a 
greater  part  of  the  information  suggested.  The  reports  of  such 
societies  in  Massachusetts,  New  York,  South  Carolina,  <fec.,  are 
voluminous  and  invaluable.  Our  own  citizens  have  most  unfortu- 
nately never  attained  to  any  high  appreciation  of  the  results  to  be 
accomplished  by  this  means.  We  had,  indeed,  once  an  agricultu- 
ral farm,  whose  history  would  be  worthy  of  narration,  which  fell, 
as  it  were  still-born,  and  without  results.  The  enterprising  gentle- 
men of  Baton  Rouge  have  also  established  two  agricultural  socie- 
ties in  their  midst,  falling  successively  into  decay.  The  last  of  them 
celebrated  four  anniversaries,  and  distributed  premiums  to  the  State 
at  large  at  several  highly  interesting  mechanical  and  agricultural 
fairs.  The  addresses,  reports,  <fec.,  of  this  society  have  been  pub- 
lished. The  Legislature  extended  a fostering  hand  in  its  aid. 


* Louisiana  Agriculture. — The  Sugar  industry  is  every  year  becoming  more  conside- 
rable in  Louisiana,  and  is  extending  through  the  other  Southern  States.  How  far  greater 
can  this  crop  be  stimulated,  and  under  what  discouragements?  We  call  it  a forced  crop, 
but  our  skill  in  machinery,  and  enlightened  management  have  compensated  much.  It  is 
but  a few  years  since  science  has  been  applied,  and  its  strides  have  been  amazing.  We 
only  now  begin  to  enquire  the  conditions  of  prosecuting  successfully  this  industry.  Plan- 
ters seek  for  light  from  every  source,  and  communicate  their  information  freely.  Can  we 
compete  with  the  West  Indies,  with  a free  trade  system,  and  with  our  highest  improve- 
ments for  the  whole  demand  of  the  Union,  and  in  foreign  markets  ? What  are  the  limits 
of  this  supply  and  demand  ? Dr.  Evans  suggests  to  the  planters  preservation  of  notes 
upon  many  points,  to  which  we  add  others  of  our  own,  “Chemical  character  of  soil,” 
“ Mode  of  cultivation  pursued.”  “ Nature  and  quality  of  manure.”  “ Weight  of  canes 
per  acre.”  “ Their  description,  whether  plants,  rattoos,  &c.,  age,  &c.”  “ Quantity  of 

juice  expressed.  “ Density  of  that  fluid  and  other  peculiarities.”  “ Amount  of  sugar  and 
molasses  obtained.  “ Kind  of  force  employed.”  “ Kind  and  consumption  of  fuel.”  “ Ex- 
pense of  machinery  and  improvements.”  “ Results  in  drainage.”  “ Physical  condition  and 
vitality  of  slaves.”  “ Expense  of  maintenance.”  “ food,  clothing,  &c.”  “ Products,”  &c. 

Millions  of  dollars  are  lost  to  the  South  from  the  ijnpossibility  of  obtaining  reliable  infor- 
mation about  the  Cotton  crops.  Presumptions  will^take  the  highest  figure  in  a doubt,  and 
the  buyers  control  the  price.  Sales  are  effected  before  the  full  effect  of  deficiopcy  in  a 
short  crop  can  be  known  and  have  an  influence.  It  is  difficult  to  propose  a remedy  but 
such  may  possibly  be  devised.  In  fact,  the  whole  cotton  interest  has  been  badly  under- 
stood, and  the  notions  of  tho  wisest  prove  grossly  wrong.  Sufficient  facts  have  not  boon 
observed  and  recorded.  Tho  ca})acity  to  produce  has  been  esteemed  unlimited — the  dis- 
position and  ability  to  consume  limited.  The  cry  of  over-production  went  out  of  course, 
and  intelligent  men  talked  of  convening  the  planters  to  reduce  the  supply.  How  much 
have  such  opinions  depressed  the  industry  ? Had  the  facts  been  carefully  compared  and 
preserved,  it  would  have  been  seen  the  average  producing  power  jv  limited — exceeding- 


Bureau  of  StatisUci}. 


Is  it  not  probable  that  the  prosecution  of  the  duties  of  this  llu- 
reau,  and  its  publications  will  stimulate  the  re-organization  of 
the  society  upon  a basis  which  shall  be  commensurate  with  the 
wants  of  the  whole  State,  and  would  not  Baton  Rouge,  now  the 
capital,  be  much  more  appropriate  for  the  meetings  of  such  an  as- 
sociation, which  every  other  year  could  be  held  during  the  session 
of  the  Legislature  ? The  State  might,  even  with  propriety,  grant 
a hall  for  its  use,  and  by  small  appropriations  after  the  fashion  of 
Massachusetts,  to  be  expended  in  the  publication  of  proceedings 
and  reports,  encourage  not  only  the  labors  of  the  central  society, 
but  the  establishment  of  subordinate  ones  in  the  different  parishes. 
First  among  the  interests  to  which  Government  should  devote  its 
fostering  care,  is  Agriculture.  It  is  the  breast,  said  the  celebrated 
Sully,  whence  the  State  derives  support  and  nourishment.  Can  it 
be  wondered  then,  that  enthusiasts  everywhere,  are  pressing  upon 
Congress  the  establishment  of  an  agricultural  department,  should 
even  federal  powers  be  transcended  by  it.* * 


ly  limited — that  the  climax  has  been,  perhaps,  reached,  estimating  the  working  force  to 
be  used,  and  the  appropriate  lands,  and  that  the  demand  is  at  least  equal,  and  very  likely 
greater  than  this  limit.  The  figures  for  the  present  year,  taking  the  world  over,  will  show 
an  actual  and  considerable  deficit.  Shall  supply  ever  again  overtake  demand  ? 

* Agricultural  Societies  and  Fairs. — The  cause  of  agriculture  and  the  arts  can  bo 
promoted  in  no  way,  more  effectually  than  by  the  institution  of  societies,  shows  and  fairs. 
The  turf  is  applauded  for  its  influences  on  stock,  but  is  there  nothing  for  the  competition 
and  rewards  of  public  exhibitions?  Perhaps  every  State  in  the  Union  is  in  advance  of 
Louisiana  with  respect  to  agricultural  societies,  and  no  state  could  derive  more  substantial 
benefit  from  them.  The  Legislature  should  encourage  such  associations,  and  there  are 
ways  of  doing  it.  Even  our  agricultural  publications,  come  nearly  all  from  the  north,  and 
are  of  little  use  to  us.  A memorial  has  been  sent  to  Congress  from  Maryland,  praying  a 
donation  of  public  lands  for  the  promotion  of  agriculture  in  the  several  States.  Agricul- 
tural colleges  are  among  the  appropriate  means.  The  Secretary  of  the  Interior  suggests 
an  Agricultural  Department  at  Washington.  What  the  Governor  of  Virginia  says  in 
his  last  message  is  true  of  most  of  the  States,  “while  Virginia  has  extended  with  great 
liberality  assistance  to  education  and  works  of  improvement,  she  has  never  given  to  agri- 
culture, any  encouragement  whatever.”  Louisiana  calls  upon  Congress  to  restore  her  de- 
generating cane  by  importations  from  the  east,  and  gives  a bounty  to  the  silk  grower. — 
Cannot  her  statistical  Bureau,  in  some  such  way,  be  connected  with  agriculture,  as  to  co- 
operate with  a State  Agricultural  Society,  and  perform  certain  duties  assigned  by  it  ? This 
is  worthy  of  reflection. 

The  South  has  always  been  remiss  in  encouragement  to  the  Mechanic  arts.  The 
splendid  exhibitions  made  by  this  departraent  of  industry  at  the  north,  and  parti(;ularly  in 
New  York,  attracts  hundreds  of  thousands  of  spectators  annually.  The  fairs  in  France 
and  Engiand,  are  on  a scale  of  great  magnificence.  Thus  far  there  have  been  but  few  in 
the  southern  states.  Does  the  genius  of  invention  necessarily  dwell  at  the  north,  or  have 
we  not  crushed  it  by  our  discouragement?  The  late  splendid  fair  at  Charleston,  which 
included  the  products  of  Carolina,  Georgia,  etc.,  in  innumerable  quantity,  and  most  exqui- 
site skill  and  finish,  is  a triumphant  vindication  of  the  South.  Premiums  were  allotted  in 
every  department.  The  products  of  southern  industry  have  even  taken  premiums  lately 
at  the  north.  In  Louisiana,  our  fairs  were  on  a different  scale,  but  they  should  be  in  the 
metropolis,  and  it  is  not  doubted,  they  would  give  a stimulus  to  the  arts  in  this  quarter, 
which  would,  in  time,  destroy  our  subserviency.  The  artisan,  as  well  as  the  merchant, 
rules  the  world,  and  there  is  no  better  proof  than  the  approaching  fair  of  all  nations,  to  be 
held  in  London,  and  over  which,  Prince  Albertis  to  preside! 


Bureau  of  Statistics, 


The  manufactures  of  Louisiana,  excepting  sugar,  which  is  gen- 
erally classed  otherwise,  are  the  least  important,  almost  of  any 
State  in  the  Union.  The  Government  census  of  1850,  will  again 
reveal  this  humiliating  fact.  It  is  easy  to  say  that  capital  finds 
better  investments,  but  this  is  not  true,  as  it  is  even  going  abroad. 
Mechanic  industry  meets  also  with  little  encouragement.  There  is 
no  natural  reason  for  this  state  of  things,  and  we  are  very  far  from 
advocating  artificial  stimulents  in  the  way  of  government  patron- 
age. To  enlighten  self  interest  should  be  the  aim,  and  that  will  ef- 
fect the  resolution.  Let  us  know  why  we  are  in  no  better  position 
in  this  behalf,  what  have  been  the  causes  contributing  to  our  fai- 
lures in  almost  every  paste  xperiment,  or  diminishing  the  number 
of  these  experiments  ? How  comes  it,  that  except  in  the  State 
Penitentiary,  we  have  not  entered  the  field  of  cotton  manufactures, 
when  all  our  sister  southern  states  and  cities  have  been  in  motion, 
when  the  material  is  around  us  in  bountiful  profusion,  and  it  can  be 
demonstrated,  may  be  worked  with  the  greatest  possible  advantage, 
and  with  the  largest  and  most  reliable  profits? 

Our  citizens  perceiving  this,  begin  to  embark  their  capital  in  the 
operations  of  other  States.  Can  a community  advance  to  high  po- 
sition without  diversifying  its  pursuits,  and  is  there  not  always  sur- 
plus, or  unproductive  capital  capable  of  being  diverted  into  the  use- 
ful channels  of  manufactures  ? Too  many  facts  cannot  be  accumu- 
lated in  regard  to  these  matters.  But  the  other  day,  a movement 
was  made,  looking  to  the  establishment  of  an  extensive  cotton 
factory  in  New  Orleans,  and  a rice  mill  upon  a similar  scale  would 
seem  to  be  equally  promising.  It  is  a mistake  to  argue  that  the 
cost  of  labor  will  deter,  when  there  are  so  many  counterbalancing 
agencies  at  work.  Paper  mills  and  shoe  factories  are  also  peculiar- 
ly economical  operations  for  a State  like  ours.  The  results  of  the 
first  are  almost  a clear  gain  to  the  community  at  large,  being  de- 
rived from  the  otherwise  worthless  and  wasted  material,  of  every 
household.  The  cause  of  southern  manufactures,  is  one  of  the 
highest  of  the  age,  and  it  is  gratifying  to  see  the  extent  to  which 
it  is  pressed,  without  one  clamor  for  the  aid  of  Hercules  in  the 
struggle.  This  is  a legitimate  and  proper  business,  and  the  time 
has  perhaps  come,  when  the  southern  and  western  states  might  unite 
in  one  great  convention,  for  the  purpose  of  extending  their  manu- 
factures, upon  a platform  which  shall  not  compromise  or  trample 
fupon  a single  party  principle — and  for  such  a convention,  what  po- 
sition more  admirable  than  New  Orleans  ?* 


* Southern  Manufactures. — The  facilities  for  manufactures  of  cotton  enjoyed  by  the 
South,  exceed  that  of  any  portion  of  the  world.  Having  the  material  on  the  spot,  with 
abundant  labor,  the  saving  in  transportation  and  other  costs,  will,  alone,  pay  handsome 
dividends.  An  intelligent  writer  estimates  the  proportionate  profit  of  the  planter  and  th«? 


Bureau  of  Statutics. 


23 


fiOuisiana  is  dependant  upon  her  position  for  the  immense  com- 
merce wliich  is  poured  into  her  lap.  The  statistics  of  this  trade 
are  no  where  to  be  found  digested,  except  for  a few  years  and  we 
must  search  up  the  files  of  old  newspapers  to  get  them.  What,  too, 
are  the  advantages  of  position  in  an  age  like  this,  compared  with 
those  of  exhaustless  energy  and  intrepidity?  The  East  has  prac- 
tically levelled  the  mountains  and  made  a highway  to  her  very  doors, 
for  the  teeming  products  of  the  great  valley,  we  deemed  in  the  day 
of  our  pride  would  be  ours  for  ever  by  an  unalterable  fate.  The 
mouth  of  the  father  of  waters,  commercially  may  be  as  well  at 
Boston  as  at  the  Balize  ! Already  his  floods  are  tapped  by  each  of 
the  Atlantic  cities,  down  almost  to  our  very  coasts,  and  Charleston, 
Savannah  and  Mobile  enter  the  field  of  competition  with  frheir 
northern  contemporaries.  Thus  is  it  that  New  Orleans  has  not 
grown  with  the  progress  of  the  great  west  in  any  thing,  like  an 
equal  ratio.  Our  figures  might  show  relatively  in  this  point  of 
view  a decline  of  the  city  within  the  last  few  years  ! The  fact 
should  arouse  the  attention  of  the  whole  State.  Are  there  not 
modes  of  counteracting  these  efforts  of  our  neighbors  whose  results 
are  telling  with  so  much  force  upon  ourselves?  We  are  supine  and 
attempt  not  one  single  countervailing  movement.  Has  public 
spirit  died  in  our  midst  and  do  we  only  await  the  day  of  the  ebbing 
tide  to  go  with  it  wheresoever  it  flows?  If  not,  then  shall  we  by 
studying  accurately  the  advantages  and  disadvantages  intrinsically 
of  our  markets  and  the  course  of  administrative  policy  operating 
upon  it  favorably  or  adverse,  be  the  better  able  to  enter  into 
open  competition,  maintaining  every  advanced  point  that  has  been 
gained,  and  marching  onwards  to  a high  and  brilliant  futurity.  If 
there  are  errors  of  policy  they  should  be  amended,  and  let  us  not 
at  the  same  time  be  indifferent  to  those  great  internal  improve- 
ment movements  of  the  age,  which  are  to  commerce,  what  light  and 
heat  aud  moisture  are  to  the  vegetable  world.* * 


manufacturer,  as  follows : With  three  times  the  capital  the  planters’  profits  are  less;  six 
hundred  laborers  in  the  field  do  not  realize  as  much  as  275  in  the  factory,  etc.,  etc.  Ano- 
ther recommends  manufactures  by  the  cotton  growers  themselves,  our  crop  being  estima- 
ted at  $55,000,000  being  worked  up  at  3 cents  the  pound,  two  yards  to  the  pound,  and 
nine  cents  the  yard,  making  the  whole  cotton  crop  worth  18  instead  of  6 cents  the  pound, 
(the  price  last  year)  and  realizing  $180,000,000  instead  of  $55,000,000.  The  machinery 
necessary  to  work  up  the  whole  crop  may  be  had  for  $50,000,000.  These  facts  should 
bring  us  to  reflect,  and  the  more  of  them  we  can  collect,  and  the  speedier  the  better.  A 
convention  of  cotton  growers  might  well  be  called,  to  discuss  this  whole  subject,  and  the 
South  should  spare  no  pains  in  collecting  data. 

* Commerce  op  New  Orleans. — Though  the  natural  advantages  of  our  great  empo- 
rium, commanding  as  it  does  so  many  thousand  miles  of  navigable  waters,  be  greater 
perhaps  than  those  of  any  other  city  upon  earth,  yet  in  the  struggles  of  competition  and  the 
wit  of  man,  they  may  be  effectually  neutralized  and  counteracted.  The  canal  and  the  rail- 
road car  are  brought  into  successful  competition  with  the  flat  and  the  steam-boat.  The 
power  of  the  locomotive  has  scarcely  been  tested,  but  such  are  the  rapid  improvements  in 


24 


Bureau  of  S tads  ties. 


Indeed  the  commercial  spirit  has  been  at  a low  ebb  throughout 
all  the  south,  almost  from  the  establishment  of  the  Federal  govern- 
ment. Let  us  take  Richmond,  Charleston,  Savannah,  Mobile  and 
New  Orleans.  Their  annual  exportation  of  agricultural  products 
is  immense.  It  is  conducted  in  northern  shipping  and  the  return 
cargoes  received  at  northern  ports  to  be  re-shipped  again  with  great 
expense  to  us,  who  sit  patiently  awaiting  the  result.  The  single 
city  of  New  York  will  import  sixfold  more  than  all  of  our  Southern 
States  taken  together,  and  for  our  own  consumption  too.  The  South 
appeared  once  to  be  aroused  upon  the  subject.  Several  great 
Conventions  were  held  with  the  largest  delegations.  Then  were 
made  the  ablest  speeches,  the  most  profound  and  elaborate  reports, 
the  best  Resolutions  in  the  world,  but  there  the  matter  ended, 
and  all  was  rest  again.  There  are  no  necessary  reasons  for  south- 
ern commercial  inferiority.  Venice,  a southern  city,  conducted 
the  trade  of  all  the  East  and  was  the  entrepot  of  the  world’s  com- 
merce for  the  main  period  of  her  history.  Antiquity  refutes  the 
libel  that  southern  latitudes  are  unfitted  for  extensive  commerce. 
The  empires  of  Assyria,  Egypt,  Media,  Persia  and  Arabia  were 
southern.  Ail  civilization  came  from  the  south — the  Greeks  and 
Romans  were  southerners.  Were  not  all  the  southern  Indian 
tribes  on  the  discovery  of  America,  more  advanced  in  civilization 
than  the  northern?  The  great  south  deserves  as  much  of  our 
panegyric  as  the  great  west  or  north.* 


the  cheapness  and  efficacy  of  its  construction  and  operation,  that  it  may  be  doubled  if 
in  time  navigation  can  compete  even  in  the  lowest  description  of  product.  The  canals  and 
railroads  of  New  York,  have  struck  the  great  west  in  its  teeming  midst  and  draw  already 
to  the  Hudson  from  ^50  to  ^75,000,000  annually,  the  latter  figure  Merging  very  nearly 
upon  the  receipts  of  New  Orleans.  The  thousand  miles  of  Boston  rail  roads  are  burdened 
with  the  rich  freights  of  the  valley.  Baltimore  enters  the  field  and  Virginia  will  soon  float 
in  the  James  River,  the  flat  boat  which  has  been  loaded  near  the  falls  of  St.  Antony. 
Meanwhile  Charleston  and  Savannah,  with  the  keenest  interest  press,  their  works  to  the 
Tennessee  and  the  Mississippi  at  Memphis,  whilst  our  sister  of  Mobile  has  in  construction 
a splendid  work  reaching  to  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio.  What  shall  be  the  effect  of  all  these 
works  in  successful  operation  in  drawing  off  the  products  of  the  valley  from  their  natural 
channel,  and  how  shall  wo  provide  against  that  day?  It  is  common  to  speculate  upon  the 
future  greatness  and  grandeur  of  New  Orleans,  with  eyes  blinded  to  the  causes  adversely 
in  operation.  Is  this  wise  and  prudent  ? Should  .we  not  rather  put  in  play  machinery 
similar  to  that  of  our  neighbors  and  add  to  what  nature  has  given  us  by  all  the  appliances 
of  art.  It  is  notorious  that  things  are  left  very  much  to  their  own  regulation  in  Now 
Orleans,  and  that  few  are  interested  in  the  permanent  good  of  the  city  at  the  expense 
even  of  slight  present  inconvenience.  The  result  is,  that  abuses  gain  in  strength  and  the 
sympathies  of  producers  are  against  the  city.  Remove  the  necessity  that  brings  them 
here  and  without  many  and  great  ameliorations  they  are  gone.  It  is  proper  to  enquire 
into  all  these  matters,  and  it  is  believed  that  with  some  pains  and  labor,  instructive  facts 
could  be  gleaned  and  presented.  Again  the  rail-road  and  canai  enterprises  of  Louisiana 
past  and  present  offer  a curious  subject  for  study,  and  it  is  fitting  to  know,  how  far  their  fate 
should  deter  future  operations.  Shall  our  state  remain  ever  behind  nearly  all  others  iu 
those  improvements  which  are  at  the  basis  of  commercial  eminence  ? 

* Commercial  Review,  Vol.  iv.  p.  208. 


Bureau  oj  Statislics 


25 


There  is  one  department  of  American  commerce  that  has  never 
been  fairly  represented — the  home  trade.  The  federal  authori- 
ties give;  with  great  precision  the  details  of  $250  or  $300,000,000 
moving  in  the  oj)erations  of  foreign  commerce,  but  not  a fact  is 
developed  in  relation  to  the  perhaps  $1,500,000,000  in  movement 
between  difierent  states,  or  parts  of  the  same  state.  There  is  no 
power  in  Congress  to  collect  this  data,  and  it  is  clearl}^  the  interest 
of  the  state  to  furnish  it.  Were  all  the  facts  continually  before  the 
people,  showing  the  extent  of  transactions  between  the  States  and 
their  mutual  dependence,  it  would  tend  more  to  allay  jealousy, 
encourage  fraternity  and  strengthen  the  bonds  of  union,  than  all 
the  repubiications  of  Washington’s  address  the  treasury  could  pay 
for. 

Matters  of  more  local  interest  also  deserve  attention.  Our  new 
Constitution  gives  the  quietus  to  the  whole  banking  system  of  the 
State.  Why  has  this  been,  and  what  can  be  given  of  the  past 
history  of  our  banks,  their  organization  and  operation,  the  public 
indebtedness  on  their  account,  and  public  losses  ? How  deeply  in- 
teresting and  instructive  would  this  chapter,  in  our  experience,  be, 
if  carefully  corrected  and  written.  Our  laws  provide  for  monthly 
and  annual  statements  of  these  Banks,  and  they  are  sought  with 
avidity  by  the  Officers  at  Washington,  yet  to  make  them  complete 
year  should  be  compared  with  year,  and  the  results  of  our  own 
State  with  those  of  others. 

In  the  same  connection  may  be  discussed  as  evidencing  very  much 
of  a State’s  advancement,  the  various  charities  at  work,  and  the 
extent  to  which  they  are  pressed  by  the  liberality  of  our  citizens. 
The  peculiar  quality  of  our  charity  is  to  be  unostentatious,  but  a 
sufficiency  of  facts  are  within  reach  to  prove  that  it  is  not  exceeded 
by  that  of  any  part  of  the  Union.  The  suffering  find  ever  a ready 
hand  outstretched,  and  an  open  purse.  Have  we  societies  for  lite- 
rary, scientific,  and  other  purposes,  what  are  their  results,  whence 
their  limited  number  and  continued  failures  ? So,  too,  the  statistics 
of  our  libraries,  newspaper  and  periodical  press,  <fec.,  our  jails,  pri- 
sons, houses  of  refuge,  and  the  criminal  calendar,  pauperism,  lu- 
natic asylums,  hospitals,  and  penetentiaries.  In  regard  to  the  two 
last,  a complete  condensation  of  all  the  reports,  running  back  as 
far  as  they  can  be  obtained  from  the  books,  would  have  very  great 
value. 

But,  however,  instructive  these  matters,  clear  and  concise  state- 
ments, showing  the  progress  of  the  revenues  and  the  expenditures  of 
the  State,  as  compared  with  other  States,  would  be  immeasurably 
more  so.  The  resources  of  a people  may  be  very  great,  and  yet 
be  exhausted  by  taxation.  Others,  under  great  physical  disadvan- 
D 


26 


Bureau  of  Statistics. 


tages,  will  flourish  from  its  absence.  Legislative  parsimony  and 
legislative  extravagance  are  equally  to  be  deprecated.  The  mean 
in  governing  well,  is  to  expend  intelligently  and  advisedly.  The 
idea  is  out  that  the  people  of  Louisiana  are  heavily  and  unduly  tax- 
ed, and  that  expenditures  are  allowed  to  accumulate  without  rea- 
son. True  or  false,  injury  to  our  industry  results  from  the  impres- 
sion. To  arrive  at  the  facts,  our  tax  rolls  should  be  compared  with 
those  of  other  large  and  wealthy  communities.  ^ The  tables  of  re 
venues  and  expenditures  should  be  brought  together,  digested  and 
systematized  from  a period  as  far  back  as  possible,  as  is  the  cus- 
tom of  the  general  government,  and  the  legislators  and  people 
should  have  them.  Our  eyes  might  be  opened  upon  many  points, 
and  not  a few  reforms  suggested.  The  complaint  of  the  planting 
interests  v/ould  seem  to  demand  investigation.  We  should  know 
the  evil  and  the  good,  the  wisdom  and  the  folly,  the  truth  and  the 
error,  of  our  ways,  before  the  healing  balm  can  be  applied.  Light 
in  regard  to  the  operations  of  government  quiets  apprehension  and 
ensures  contentment  in  the  people  ; without  it,  there  will  not  be 
wanting  many  attentive  listeners  to  whomsoever  shall  preach — they 
are  not  governed  so  well  as  should  be. 

The  offices  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  the  Treasurer,  Land  Of- 
ficer, Auditor,  Surveyor,  and  Adjutant-General,  Ac.,  all  contain 
a mass  of  crude  and  undigested  material,  which,  properly  systema- 
tized and  published,  running  back  as  far  as  the  records  go,  must 
bring  to  light  no  inconsiderable  information  relating  to  the  public 
offices,  finances,  land  sales,  militia,  internal  improvements,  Ac., 
of  the  State.  The  difficulty  of  making  such  a digest  must  be 
great,  but  the  effort  would  be  well  repaid,  and  the  Legislature  rea- 
lize the  benefit.  No  more  fitting  time  than  this  could  be  selected, 
when  the  offices  removed  to  a new  location,  are  in  process  of  tho- 
rough organization.  The  State  has  liberally  patronized,  at  large 
cost,  digests  of  decisions  of  laws,  Ac.,  elementary  histories  and 
historical  records,  until  they  have  accumulated  upon  the  shelves  of 
her  library.  Have  these  any  higher  interest  or  importance  than 
the  work  now  advocated  ? 

Independently  of  the  other  advantages  to  be  derived  from  such 
a statistical  volume,  there  is  a consideration  which  should  move  us. 
The  great  question  of  power  is  now  being  raised  between  the  free 
and  the  slave  states  and  must  soon  be  settled.  The  former  have 
for  a variety  of  reasons  had  the  advantage  of  \w  in  exhibiting  their 
resources  and  strength.  They  have  had  all  the  Statisticians  to 
themselves  and  all  the  statistical  reports.  They  have  used  them 
as  powerful  implements  of  warfare,  and  the  South  having  nothing 
to  show  in  return  has  been  compelled  to  see  her  cause  greatly  pre- 


Bureau  of  Statistics. 


21 


judiced.  Until  almost  the  present  day  none  of  the  southern  States 
have  rci^ardcd  it  at  all  imj)ortant  to  secure  records  and  retui|ns  of 
population  and  wealth.  Not  one  periodical  devoted  itself  to  these 
subjects,  though  the  North  had  many.  We  were  taunted  with 
our  comparative  weakness,  poverty,  insecurity,  decay,  and  told 
that  they  were  the  natural  results  of  our  slavery.  Having  no  facts 
to  oppose,  we  were  passive  and  for  the  most  part  admitted  the 
justice  of  the  charge.  We  had  not  studied  our  own  strength. 
Only  yesterday  as  it  were,  a gentleman  well  known  to  the  Union, 
Elwood  Fisher,  Esq.,  in  a public  lecture  at  Cincinnati,  broke 
ground  in  the  matter,  lucidly,  and  ably  investigating  every  point 
connected  with  it,  and  with  even  the  meagre  data  he  could  obtain, 
triumphantly  vindicating  the  South  and  turning  the  scales  upon  our 
revilers,  by  exhibiting  a much  higher  average  of  wealth  and  com- 
fort in  southern  communities  ! It  becomes  Louisiana  to  furnish 
the  data  for  carrying  out  these  investigations  and  for  the  more  full 
and  satisfactory  justification  of  our  institutions  and  ourselves. 

The  day  has  passed  when  the  South  will  consent  to  be  the  victim 
of  unlicensed  misrepresentation  or  widely  propagated  error,  but 
the  reform  begins  first  at  home. 

The  lecture  of  Mr.  Fisher  was  almost  our  first  systematic  vindi- 
cation and  should  be  read  by  every  citizen  throughout  our  broad 
limits.  He  examines  the  positions  of  the  North  and  the  South  on 
the  adoption  of  the  federal  constitution,  showing  the  superiority  of 
the  latter  then,  and  how  the  operations  of  government  have  played 
into  northern  hands.  He  compares  the  average  of  property  in 
both  sections  and  finds  the  South  at  least  on  a par  and  in  most  cases 
at  the  advantage.  The  triumph  of  southern  enterprise  and  capital 
says  he,  in  the  accumulation  of  wealth  being  established,  &c.,  <fec., 
again  “ thus  have  w e fifteen  southern  States,  one  half  of  the  num- 
ber belonging  to  the  Union,  occupying  half  of  our  territory  who 
present  the  extraordinary,  and  so  far  as  my  researches  extend,  the 
unparalleled  result  of  a population  which  has  acquired  greater 
wealth  by  agriculture  than  any  other  people  in  any  other  manner, 
and  wdio  have  consequently  given  ascendency  wfithin  their  borders 
of  country  life  over  city,  in  social  and  political  power.”  Again, 
“ Hence  have  we  seen  the  fearful  struggle  of  northern  labor  for 
subsistence  ; notwithstanding  the  immense  aid  it  has  derived  from 
modern  machinery  and  invention.  But  take  from  that  labor  the 
custom,  and  subject  it  to  the  competition  of  the  South,  w here  so 
' much  less  is  required  for  subsistence,  and  that  so  much  cheaper, 
and  the  result  would  be  as  ruinous  to  the  present  system  of  the 
North  as  to  that  of  the  South.  These  two  great  systems  have 
grown  up  together.  That  of  the  North  could  not  have  so  much 


28 


B<Lveau  of  Statistics. 


expanded  without  a market  in  southern  agriculture — nor  could  this 
have  grown  so  great,  but  for  the  demand  and  supplies  of  the  North. 
Together  they  have  flourished — together  they  must  falter  and  fall. 
To  restrict,  therefore,  the  territorial  extension  of  the  South,  and 
by  circumscribing  its  industry  render  it  unprofitable,  is  to  restrict 
and  paralyze  the  prosperity  of  the  North  in  ail  its  departments. 
Together  these  institutions  have  marched  harmoniously  to  that 
eminence  and  success  which  have  won  the  prosperity  of  both  at 
home,  and  extorted  the  admiration  of  the  world  abroad.  If  either 
should  fall  by  the  hand  of  the  other,  the  crime  would  not  only  be 
fratricide — it  would  be  suicide,  and  over  the  mouldering  ruins  of 
both  would  deserve  to  be  written  the  epitaph  : “ Here  were  a people 
who  disputed  about  the  capacity  of  the  African  for  liberty  and 
civilization,  and  did  not  themselves  possess  the  capacity  to  preserve 
their  own.” 

However  warmly  and  ardently  the  South  may  cling  to  the  Union, 
and  as  sacred  as  it  is  to  us  by  the  associations  of  so  much  happiness  and 
glory  and  power,  we  can  never  forget  for  a moment,  that  eter- 
nal vigilance  is  the  price  we  must  pay  for  it,  and  that  to  prepare  for 
the  worst  in  almost  every  crisis,  is  to  secure  the  best.  The  danger 
may  be  remote,  and  is  as  we  believe  and  pray,  for  perish  the  hand 
that  shall  provoke  the  first  blow  in  our  ruin,  but  not  the  less  should 
we  know  its  extent  and  our  powers  of  resistance.  It  becomes 
the  South  to  increase  its  strength  and  weight  in  the  Union,  con- 
struct its  railroads,  extend  its  commerce,  build  up  its  manufactures, 
protect  its  arts,  endow  its  universities  and  colleges,  provide  its 
schools,  and  prepare,  however  the  case  may  be,  for  whatever  God 
has  in  store  in  that  future,  through  which,  to  such  a bad  pass  have 
matters  come,  no  man  can  clearly  see  a single  year.  The  madness 
or  imbecility  has  not  fallen  upon  us,  with  which  it  is  said  the  Gods 
afflict  those  whom  they  intend  to  destroy.  * 

* Resources  of  the  South. — In  by  far  the  most  elaborate  and  studied  speech  which 
the  slavery  excitement  in  Congress  has  produced,  that  of  Mr.  Clingman  of  North  Caro- 
lina, the  position  of  the  South  in  the  event  of  any  disaster  to  the  Union,  is  traced  in  a bold 
and  strong  hand.  There  are  plain  truths  plainly  spoken,  and  it  can  be  no  harm  to  calcu- 
late the  value  of  the  Union  to  particular  sections,  when  the  object  is  to  pre.serve  it  in  per- 
petuity from  aggression.  In  our  opinion  no  section  gives  more  than  it  receives  an  equiva- 
lent for,  and  all  would  sufter  grievously,  beyond  language  to  portray,  by  a dissolution 
of  the  fabric.  Yet,  are  we  not  afraid  to  lift  the  curtain,  and  look  behind  into  the  figures 
of  Mr.  Clingman,  though  it  may  be  done  with  solemn  awe.  We  venture  an  extract, 
merely  for  its  facts  in  relation  to  southern  resources. 

“It  is  difficult  to  determine  the  precise  amount  of  the  exports  of  the  slaveholdiug  States, 
because  it  is  not  practicable  to  arrive  at  the  exact  value  of  that  portion  which  i.s  sold  to  the 
free  States.  But  the  amount  of  our  leading  staples  being  pretty  well  known — I mean  cot- 
ton, rice,  tobacco,  sugar,  &.C., — we  can  arrive  at  the  whole  value  of  our  exports  pretty 
nearly.  They  cannot  fall  short  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  millions  of  dollars;  and  this  year, 
perhaps,  considerably  exceed  that  sum.  This  is  nearly  as  much  as  the  whole  of  the  ex- 
ports of  the  United  States  to  foreign  countries.  It  must  be  remembered,  however,  that 


Buraia  of  Slalishcs. 


The  first  volume  \v  liich  is  then  proposed  from  this  Bureau,  cov  ers 
of*  necessity  an  extensive  field,  embraces  a wide  detail  and  will 
constitute  a repository  of  information  concerning  our  population 
and  industry  in  all  stages  of  their  progress,  and  as  compared  with 
other  communities,  which  does  not  at  present  exist  in  any  of  the 
states.  It  will  form  the  ground  work  of  all  future  labors  of  the  office, 
and  be  always  completed  to  date  by  the  annual  or  biennial  reports 
of  the  person  in  charge.  The  duties  of  keeping  up,  after  the 
foundation  is  laid,  will  be  comparatively  easy  and  the  length  of  the 
reports  not  exceeding  that  of  an  ordinary  pamphlet.  For  such 

though  the  free  States  furnish  part  of  our  exports,  yet  that  which  they  do  afford  is  scarce- 
ly so  much  as  the  portion  of  our  own  products  which  goes  to  them  for  consumption.  If, 
therefore,  we  were  separated,  our  whole  exports  to  the  North,  and  to  foreign  countries  gen- 
erally, would  be  equal  to  that  sum.  Of  course  we  should  import  as  much,  and  in  fact  do 
at  this  time  consume  as  much.  A duty  of  thirty  per  cent,  on  these  imports  (and  most  of 
the  rates  of  the  present  tariff  laAV  are  higher)  would  yield  a revenue  of  nearly  forty  mil- 
lions of  dollars. 

“As  the  prices  of  almost  all  manufactured  articles  are  regulated  by  the  production  of 
the  great  workshops  of  Europe,  where  the  accumulation  of  capital  and  labor  keeps  down 
production  to  the  lowest  possible  rates.  I have  no  doubt  but  that  sum  would  be  raised  with- 
out any  material  increase  of  the  prices  which  our  citizens  now  pay.  We  might  therefore 
expend  as  much  as  the  Government  of  the  United  States  ever  did  in  time  of  peace  up  to 
the  beginning  of  General  Jackson’s  administration,  and  still  have  on  hand  twenty-five  mil- 
lions of  dollars  to  devote  to  the  making  of  railroads,  opening  our  harbors  and  rivers,  and 
for  other  domestic  purposes.  Or,  by  levying  only  a twenty  per  cent,  duty,  which  the 
northern  manufacturers  found  ruinous  to  them,  as  they  said,  under  Mr.  Clay’s  compromise 
bill,  we  should  be  able  to  raise  some  twenty-five  millions  of  dollars.  Half  of  this  sum 
would  be  sufficient  for  the  support  of  our  army,  navy,  and  civil  government.  The  residue 
might  be  devoted  to  the  making  of  all  such  improvements  as  we  are  now  in  want  of,  and 
especially  checkering  our  country  over  with  railroads.  Subjecting  the  goods  of  the  North 
to  a duty,  with  those  from  other  foreign  countries,  would  at  once  give  a powerful  stimulus 
to  our  own  manufactures.  We  have  already  sufficient  capital  for  the  purpose.  But  if 
needed,  it  would  come  in  from  abroad.  English  capitalists  have  filled  Belgium  with  fac- 
tories. Why  did  this  occur?  Simply  because  provisions  were  cheaper  there  and  taxes 
lower  than  in  England.  The  same  motives  would  bring  them  into  the  southern  country, 
since  both  the  reasons  assigned  are  much  stronger  in  our  case.  It  has  already  been  proved 
that  we  can  manufacture  some  kinds  of  goods  more  cheaply  than  the  North.  In  New 
England,  too,  owing  to  her  deficient  agriculture,  eveiy  thing  is  directed  to  manufacturing, 
and  the  system  is  strained  up  to  a point  which  is  attended  with  great  social  disadvantages, 
so  as  to  retard  population.  In  the  South  it  need  not  be  so.  The  climate  and  soil  are  very 
favorable  to  agricultural  pursuits.  Our  slaves  might  be  chiefly  occupied  on  the  farms, 
while  the  poorer  class  of  our  white  population,  and  a portion  of  our  females,  could  bo  advan- 
tageously employed  in  manufacturing.  We  should  thus  have  that  diversity  in  our  pur- 
suits which  is  most  conducive  to  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  a people. 

“Our  carrying  trade  would  probably  for  a time  be  in  the  hands  of  the  English  and  other 
foreigners.  This,  however,  would  not  bo  to  our  disadvantage,  since  northern  ship-owners 
now  charge  as  much  for  freight  between  New  York  and  New  Orleans  as  they  do  for  car- 
rying it  to  Canton,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  globe.  The  whole  amount  of  the  freight  on 
southern  productions,  received  by  the  northern  ship-owners,  has,  on  a minute  calculation, 
been  set  down  at  forty  millions  one  hundred  and  eighty-six  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  dollars,  ($40,186,728.)  The  whole  value  which  the  North  derives  from  its 
southern  connexion  has  been  estimated,  by  some  persons  most  familiar  with  these  statis- 
tics, at  more  than  eighty-eight  millions  of  dollars.  Whoever  looks  into  the  condition  of  the 
different  States  prior  to  the  formation  of  the  Union,  and  compares  it  with  their  situation  at 
first,  under  low  duties,  up  to  the  war  and  tariff  of  1816,  and  its  successors,  highly  protec- 
tive as  they  have  been,  will  find  the  facts  fully  sustaining  the  opinions  I have  expressed.” 


Bureau  oj  Statin  lies. 


ao 


duties  it  is  believed  the  present  salary  allowed  the  Superintendent, 
small  as  it  is,  will  be  found  sufficient,  or  at  all  events  no  consider- 
able addition  will  be  demanded. 

In  the  matter  of  establishing  the  office  and  preparing  the  volu- 
minous report  referred  to,  it  must  be  evident  at  a glance  that  the 
remuneration  allowed  to  the  superintendent  by  law  is  altogether 
inadequate,  and  that  no  one,  whatever  his  interest  in  the  matter, 
would  be  likely  to  accept  it.  Hoping,  as  he  does,  so  much  from  the 
practical  working  of  the  office  in  the  future,  and  feeling  so 
much  the  pride  of  an  early  advocacy  and  support,  the  undersigned 
is  unwilling  to  jeopard  its  favor  by  any  drafts  upon  the  treasury,  or 
demands  for  additional  compensation.  He  is  desirous  rather  to 
increase  and  extend  in  every  manner  its  usefulness,  even  at  a 
personal  sacrifice. 

The  only  appropriation  that  is  asked  from  the  Legislature,  is  the 
sum  of  five  hundred  dollars,  as  a contingent  fund  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  the  office  in  the  next  two  years,  viz  : the  printing  of 
circulars,  stationary,  postage,  purchase  and  copies  of  documents, 
blanks  and  other  incidental  expenses,  etc. 

There  are  details  relating  to  the  organization  of  the  Bureau 
which  the  undersigned  will  at  a future  day  suggest,  [n  the  present 
state  of  matters,  no  change  perhaps  can  be  recommended  with 
propriety,  likely  to  add  materially  to  the  expenses  of  the  office, 
in  the  course  of  a year  or  two  the  legislature  will  be  able  to  form 
better  notions  of  its  value,  and  as  it  works  itself  into  favor, 
be  disposed  to  greater  liberality.  In  this  case  would  be  sug- 
gested statutory  enactments  in  its  aid,  rendering  it  obligatory  under 
penalty,  upon  the  assessors,  coroners,  public  institutions  of  every  kind, 
charities,  clerks  of  courts,  hospitals,  inspectors,  justices  of  the  peace, 
district  attorneys,  recorders,  notaries,  sheriffs,  auctioneers,  inspector 
general,  <fec.,  to  report  annually  and  fully  to  the  Bureau.  As  this 
would  induce  some  complication  and  increase  of  expense,  and  is 
suited  to  a more  advanced  stage,  it  is  not  at  present  recommended. 

It  is,  however,  respectfully  suggested,  that  the  legislature,  ashas 
been  done  in  New  York  and  several  other  states,  order  a copy  of 
each  newspaper  published  in  the  parishes  out  of  New  Orleans  and 
•two  in  that  city,  to  be  subscribed  for  regularly  and  filed  on  the  office 
of  the  Bureau.  These  volumes  will  in  time  possess  great  value 
and  usefulness.  It  would  be  also  very  desirable,  if  capable  of  being 
effected  by  any  reasonable  means,  to  obtain  the  files  of  at  least  one 
Journal,  running  back  as  near  the  beginning  of  the  century  as  pos- 
sible. The  state  possesses  no  such  file,  from  wliich  the  minutiap 
of  her  history  for  the  last  half  century  could  be  derived,  and  thr 
want  of  it  is  often  most  seriously  felt. 


Bureau  of  Statistics. 


U 


The  iinclersigii(‘(l  reserves  the  details  of  his  report,  with  the 
various  statistics  and  documents,  until  the  next  session  of  the  legis- 
lature, at  which  time  tliQ  volume  will  be  completed,  iu  every  parti- 
cular, and  submitted  for  approval.  He  regrets  the  present  paper 
is  not  more  interesting,  and  that  it  deals  so  much  in  suggestions 
rather  than  in  figures.  It  was  not  thought  advisable  for  the  pre- 
sent to  extend  any  further  the  limits  of  a report  merely  introductory.* 
With  high  consideration, 

J.  B.  B.  DE  BOW. 


* [n  another  place  the  movement  for  a census  volume  in  New  Orleans  was  referred  to.  The  committee 
of  the  General  Council  have  since  published  their  report,  from  whicli  the  following  is  extracted : 

Louisiana  has  established  a statistical  bureau  with  a view  of  collecting  the  facts  bearing  upon  the 
general  condition,  progress  and  working  of  the  population  and  industry  of  the  State,  Rhode  Island,  South 
Carolina  and  Georgia,  are  either  directly  or  indirectly  doing  the  same  thing.  The  city  of  Boston  whose 
progress  within  the  last  ten  years,  has  been  viewed  with  astonishment  throughout  the  whole  nation,  has 
taken  the  most  liberal  course  in  relation  to  this  and  other  matters  tending  to  build  up  a city. 

Our  sister  city  of  Charleston  has  now  the  same  thing  in  progress.  The  voluminous  report  being  in  the 
course  of  publication,  it  can  hardly  be  necessary  to  press  upon  the  people  of  New  Orleans  the  importance  of 
similar  action.  Our  city  is  less  understood  than  any  in  the  country ; it  has  grown  in  the  last  thirty  yeani 
in  a proportion  equal  to  that  of  any  city  in  the  world,  and  a single  Municipality  (the  Second)  has  doubled 
her  population  in  a third  or  fourth  of  that  time ; the  time  has  come  when  we  should  collect  the  data  of  our 
progress,  to  be  obtained  only  by  unremitting  toil  and  from  a great  variety  of  sources,  many  of  which  may 
be  lost  unless  seized  upon  at  once;  it  will  aid  us,  too,  at  abetter  understanding  of  our  true  position  to 
improve  the  advantages  we  derive  from  nature,  counteract  the  evils  that  may  menace  us,  and  draw  the 
soundest  rules  and  deductions  for  the  future.  A true  and  explicit  statement  of  our  resources,  condition 
and  progress  will  establish  and  confirm  our  credit  at  home  and  abroad.  Without  the  facts  thus  gather- 
ed, we  are  likely  to  grope  in  the  dark,  and  to  realize  little  from  our  own  experience  or  that  of  others; 
there  is  a propriety  in  the  action  of  the  Council  upon  this  subject.  The  General  Council  is  the  only  body 
representing  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  and  as  such,  should  direct  and  advise  in  the  gathering  and  publica- 
tion of  the  statistics  suggested  in  this  report.  The  sum  of  money  that  this  enterprise  will  probably  require 
will  not  exceed  five  thousand  dollars ; the  sale  of  the  book  itself  will  probably  pay  the  expense  of  publi- 
cation. This  sum  appropriated  by  the  several  Municipalities,  would  add  but  little  to  the  expense  of  the 
city,  and  contribute  vastly  to  the  advantages  of  every  part  of  it.  In  the  single  item  of  mortuary,  statistics, 
it  is  believed,  the  facts  and  tables,  so  far  as  they  can  be  gathered  from  official,  and  other  sources,  will 
rescue  the  city  from  the  imputation  of  excessive  unhealthiness,  operating  so  disastrously  against  us 
abroad,  and  tend,  in  the  highest  degree,  to  promote  our  population,  and  tend  to  quiet  the  apprehension 
of  those  who  would  visit  or  reside  among  us. 

The  subjects  to  which  attention  should  be  called  in  the  report,  are  ; 

1st. — In  regard  to  the  population  of  New  Orleans  from  the  earliest  records  of  the  city  to  the  acquisition 
of  Louisiana  by  the  United  States,  or  the  admission  of  Louisiana  as  a State  to  the  Union;  ft-om  this 
period  to  the  division  into  Municipalities  in  1836,  from  that  to  the  present  time ; the  progress  of  popu- 
lation distinguishing  as  far  as  may  be  the  increase  by  birth  and  immigration,  and  from  what  country, 
classes  of  population,  condition,  employment,  ages,  sexes,  births,  maniages  and  deaths,  longevity, 
diseases,  mortality  from  all  sources,  schools,  colleges,  libraries,  proportion  educated  at  home  and  abroad, 
costs  of  education,  analysis  of  the  various  census  returns,  &c. 

2d. — In  regard  to  manufactures  and  arts,  kind  of  manufactures  in  operation,  persons  employed,  pow- 
ers, capital,  wages,  materials,  and  future  prospticts  of  manufactures. 

3d. — In  regard  to  the  commercial  tables  of  the  trade  of  New  Orleans  from  the  earliest  French  and 
Spanish  times,  so  far  as  obtainable ; to  state  in  every  particular  imports  and  exports,  navigation,  tables 
of  prices,  &c. 

4th. — In  regard  to  municipal  finances,  &c.,  tables  of  revenue  and  expenditure  from  earliest  dates,  pub- 
lic works,  taxes,  debts,  &c. 

5th. — Miscellanies— including  Banks,  Insurance  Offices,  Railroads,  Canals,  Levees,  Battiires,  Build- 
ings constructed  at  various  times.  Streets,  Societies,  Churches,  Hospitals,  Benevolent  Associations, 
Courts,  crimes,  prisoners,  pauperism,  &c.  &c.,  keeping  in  all  matters,  so  far  as  practicable,  the  di- 
vision in  the  three  periods  of  time,  and  in  the  last  period  conforming  to  the  three  local  divisions  of 
the  city. 

These  tables  digested  are  systemized  to  be  contrasted  with  those  obtained  from  the  census  returns  of 
other  cities. 


NATHAN  JARVIS,  Chairman. 


32 


Buraau  of  S/afisfic.'i. 


APPENDIX  NO.  I. 


Bureau  of  Statistics — Department  or  State, 
New  Orleans,  1st  July,  1848. 

Sir, — A Bureau  of  Statistics  having;  been  established,  and  the  undersigned  entrusted 
with  its  charg(^,  he  begs  to  invite  from  citizens  in  every  section  of  the  state,  such  infor- 
mation as  they  can  impart  in  regard  to  its  present  condition  and  past  history. 

The  appended  queries  will  give  an  idea  of  the  character  of  the  facts  required,  and  will 
ho  suggestive  of  others.  The  plan  of  the  Bureau  contemplates  every  kind  of  information 
concerning  the  State,  and  it  will  be  in  the  power  of  most  persons  to  communicate  some- 
thing, upon  one  or  more  of  the  heads.  It  is  of  very  great  importance  that  the  report,  con- 
templated to  the  next  legislature,  be  complete. 

The  aid  of  the  members  of  the  legislature,  editors,  public  officers,  citizens,  «fec.,  in  all 
the  parishes,  is  invoked,  and  will  be  most  gratefully  acknowledged. 

Donations  of  old  files  of  newspapers,  records,  etc.,  to  be  deposited  in  the  Bureau,  will 
be  thankfully  received  and  acknowledged. 

J.  D.  B.  De  Bow. 

I.  Time  of  settlement  of  your  parish  or  town  ; dates  of  oldest  land  grants ; number 
and  condition  of  first  settlers  ; whence  emigrating  ; other  facts  relating  to  settlement 
and  history. 

II.  Indian  names  m yowx  v\c\miY what  tribes  originally ; what  relics  or  monuments  of 
them;  if  Indians  still,  in  what  condition? 

III.  Biography,  anecdotes,  &c.,  of  individuals  distinguished  in  your  vicinity  in  the  past 
for  ingenuity,  enterprise,  literature,  talents,  civil  or  military,  &c. 

IV.  Topographical  description  of  your  parish,  mountains,  rivers,  ponds,  animals, 
quadrupeds,  birds,  fishes,  reptiles,  insects,  &c.,  vegetable  growths,  rocks,  minerals, 
sand  clays,  chalk,  flint,  marble,  pit  coal,  pigments,  medicinal  and  poisonous  substan- 
ces, elevation  above  the  sea,  nature  of  surface,  forests,  or  undergrowth,  what  wells 
and  quality  of  well  water,  nature  of  coasts,  does  the  water  make  inroads,  mineral 
springs,  caves,  &c. 

V.  Agricultural  description  of  parish  ; former  and  present  state  of  cultivation  ; changes 
taking  place  ; introduction  of  cotton,  sugar,  rice,  indigo,  tobacco,  grains,  fruits,  vines, 
&c.,  &c. ; present  products  ; lands  occupied  and  unoccupied,  and  character  of  soils  ; 
value  of  lands  ; state  of  improvements  ; value  of  agricultural  products  ; horses,  cattle, 
mules,  hogs,  and  whence  supplied  ; profits  of  agriculture,  prices  of  products  ; new  es- 
tates opening  ; improvements  suggested  in  cultivation,  and  new  growths  ; improvements 
in  communication,  roads,  bridges,  canals,  &c. ; kind  and  quantity  of  timber,  fuel,  &c.; 
state  of  the  roads,  summer  and  winter ; kinds  of  enclosures,  and  of  what  timber ; 
manures  ; natural  and  artificial  pastures ; agricultural  implements  used  ; fruit  trees, 
vines,  and  orchards  ; modes  of  transportation;  extent  of  internal  navigation  ; levees, 
&c. ; modes  of  cultivating  and  manufacturing  sugar  in  use. 

VI.  Instances  oflongevity  und.  fecundity  ; observations  on  diseases  in  your  section  ; loca- 
lities, healthful  or  otherwise:  statistics  of  diseases:  deaths;  summer  seats,  &c. 

VII.  Population  of  your  parish  ; increase  and  progress,  distinguishing  white  and  black  ; 
Spanish,  French,  American,  or  German  origin ; foreigners,  classes  of  population  ; 
number  in  towns  ; growth  of  towns  and  villages,  etc. ; condition,  employment,  ages  ; 
comparative  value  of  free  and  slave  labor  ; comparative  tables  of  increase  ; marriages, 
births,  etc. ; meteorological  tables  of  temperature,  weather,  rains,  etc. 

VIII.  Education  and  Religion — Advantages  of  schools,  colleges,  libraries  enjoyed  ; 
proportion  educated  at  home  and  abroad  ; expense  of  education : school  returns,  church- 
es or  chapels  in  parish,  when  and  by  ivhom  erected  ; how  supplied  with  clergy  ; how 
supported  and  attended  ; oldest  interments  ; church  vaults,  &c. 


Bureau  of  Slafoshrs 


3.^ 


IX.  "Products  in  Manufactures  and  the  Arts — Kinds  of  manufactures  in  parish  ; persons 
employed  ; 'kind  of  power  ; capital  ; wages  ; per  centum  profit ; raw  material  5 sugar 
aPd  cotton  ; machinery  and  improvements  ; kind  and  value ; manufacturing  sites, 

X.  Commercial  Statistics — Value  of  the  imports  and  exports  of  Louisiana  with  each  of 
the  other  stated  of  the  Union,  as  far  as  any  approximation  may  be  made  or  data  given; 
growth  and  condition  of  towns  ; increase  in  towns,  &c. 

XI.  General  Statistics — Embracing  banking,  railroads,  insurances,  navigation,  inter- 
communication ; learned  and  scientific  societies;  crime,  pauperism,  charities,  public 
and  benevolent  institutions  ; militia,  newspapers,  &c.;  application  of  parish  taxes  ; ex- 
penses of  roads,  levees,  &c.;  number  of  suits  decided  in  different  courts  ; expenses  and 
perfection  of  justice  ; number  of  parish  officers,  lawyers,  physicians,  &c. 

XII.  Datr.  pxtcnt,  consequences,  and  other  circumstances  of  droughts,  freshets,  whirl- 
winds, sloTnis,  lightnings, 'hurricanes,  or  other  remarkable  physical  events,  m your 
section  from  remote  periods  ; other  -meteorological  phenomena;  changes  m climate. 
&c.,  &c. 

XIII.  Literary  productions  emanating  from  your  neighborhood  ; your  associations  if  any  ; 
what  manuscripts,  public  or  private  records,  letters,  journals,  &c,,  or  rare  old  books, 
interesting  in  their  relation  to  the  history  of  Louisiana,  are  possessed  by  individuals  with- 
in your  knowledge.  State  any  other  matters  of  interest. 


APPENDIX  NO.  2, 

FRENCH  COLONIAL  RECORDS  OF  LOUISIANA. 

Paris,  Oct , 20th,  1849. 

Your  note  of  June,  1848,  inviting  me  to  make  ‘^researches  in  the  different  foreign  oflSces 
■for  information  touching  the  early  colonial  history  of  Louisiana,”  reached  me  in  Netv 
Y^ork,  on  the  eve  of  my  departure  from  America,  and  I had  only  time  to  acknowledge  its 
receipt.  I have  now  the  pleasure  of  enclosing  you  a brief  report  upon  the  extent  and  value 
of  the  Historical  material  contained  in  the  different  Archives  of  the  French  Government. 
You  will  receive,  at  the  same  time,  the  first  volume  (4to.  500  pages,)  of  the  index  that  I 
have  had  made,  of  all  the  documents  in  these  archives,  in  any  way  pertaining  to  Louisiana. 
The  second  volume,  coming  down  to  the  period  of  the  transfer  of  Louisiana  to  the  United 
States  1803, 1 hope,  will  be  completed  before  the  fall.  When  in  the  receipt  of  these  two 
volumes,  the  State  will  be  in  the  possession  of  more  satisfactory  information,  touching  the 
importance  of  these  papers  to  its  history,  than  could  be  furnished  by  any  report.  On 
reaching  London,  in  August  of  last  year,  I applied  to  know  of  the  existence,  and  means 
of  access,  to  any  documents  touching  Louisiana,  in  the  archives  of  the  English  Govern- 
ment. I was  happy  to  find  our  Minister,  Mr.  Bancroft,  engaged  in  a more  general  re- 
search for  papers  referring  to  American  History.  As  his  labors  traversed  the  period  of  our 
State  history,  lie  kindly  promised  to  note  my  object,  and  have  duplicates  prepared  of  such 
papers,  as  were  hitherto  unknown,  and  deemed  of  sufficient  importance.  Since  then,  I 
have  learned  from  him,  that  he  found  none. 

The  archives  of  the  French  Government,  are  full  of  valuable  papers.  The  original  es- 
tablishment of  Louisiana  by  France,  and  the  intimate  connexion  that  existed  between  the 
colony  and  the  mother  country  for  near  two  centuries,  have  made  the  archives  of  this  Gov- 
ernment, the  principal  depository  of  our  history.  Through  the  influence  of  our  Minister, 
Mr.  Rush,  I have  had  access  to  these  different  depots.  Frequent  revolutions,  have  dis- 
turbed somewhat  the  admirable  system  that  prevailed  from  the  first  in  France,  of  recoird- 
ing  the  minutest  matters  relating  to  her  colonies.  Reports  and  decrees,  originally  destined 
to  particular  departments,  have  been  changed  and  mixed  up  with  matters  entirely  irreva- 
lent,  and  the  Louisiana  documents  are  thus  divided  among  nine  different  departments.  In 
some  of  them  they  are  arranged  with  order,  and  securely  bound  according  to  date.  In 
otliers  they  are  thrown  with  the'Canada  and  West  India  papers,  without  reference  to  date 
or  subject.  Many  of  them  are  without  date. 

It  is  in  the  department  of  the  Marine,  that  are  found  the  most  valuable.  Beginning 
early  in  the  seventeenth  century,  they  are  scattered  through  the  correspondence  of  the  of- 
fice, down  to  the  period  of  the  cei^sion  nf  Ijonisiana  by  Bonaparte  to  the  United  States,  in 
1803.  Tliey  are  more  voliuiiinoiis  and  miiuite  at  particular  epochs,  than  at  others  ; but 
E 


M 


Bureau  of  Statistics. 


their  degree  of  historical  interest,  both  personal  and  descriptive,  is  great.  The  early  com- 
munication between  Canada  and  the  Mississippi  territory,  has  so  connected  their  history 
with  the  expeditions  of  De  Lasalle,  that  many  of  the  documents  relative  to  Canada  are 
essential  to  a knowledge  of  the  antecedents  and  early  struggles  of  such  officers  as  Cavalier 
De  Lasalle,  D’Iberville,  and  his  brothers,  De  Muy,  Lamotte,  Cadillac,  and  others,  who 
passed  from  commands  in  the  one  province  to  the  other.  There  are  also  Royal  dispatches, 
addressed,  some  to  Canada  and  others  to  the  West  India  colonies,  and  the  Antilles,  that 
embrace  equally  Louisiana.  These  documents  are  contained  in  an  hundred  and  four  car- 
tons. The  cartons  are  in  4to.  and  contain  each,  five  or  nine  hundred  pages.  Papers  of  in- 
direct reference  to  Louisiana,  are  scattered  all  through  these. 

The  documents  in  the  Marine  department  that  are  labelled  Louisiana  and  partain  di- 
rectly to  its  history,  are  in  twenty-seven  large  volumes.  Some  of  them  are  classified  by 
subject  and  date;  but  the  majority  are  collected  together  without  order.  One  of  these  car- 
tons refers  exclusively  to  difficulties  with,  and  descriptions  of  the  Natchez  Indians. 

Thirteen  others,  from  1697  down  to  1768,  relate  generally  to  the  history  of  the  coloniza-. 
tion  and  government  of  Louisiana. 

Another  from  1768-70  inclusive,  describes  the  revolt  against  D’Ulloa,  judgments,  exe-. 
cutions,  «fec. 

Two  other  volumes  relate  to  the  re-taking  of  Louisiana  from  Spain,  and  its  cession  by 
Bonaparte  to  the  United  States. 

One  carton  is  filled  with  documents  without  date,  many  of  them  of  much  interest. 

There  is  also,  one  volume  of  dispatches  and  orders  of  the  King,  from  1697  to  1736. 

Three  large  volumes  folia,  entitled  Memoires  of  Louisiana. 

Two  volumes  of  expeditions  to  Louisiana,  accounts  of  India,  «fec.,  1721  to  1731. 

A register  and  carton  of  the  names  and  commissions  of  officers  emigrating  to  or  serving 
in  Louisiana. 

There  are  two  volumes  filled  entirely  with  decrees. 

There  is  also  a volume  containing  a sketch  of  the  territory,  with  a record  of  difFercufe 
concessions. 

In  the  depot  of  the  Marine  department,  there  exists,  perhaps,  twenty  maps  of  the  terri- 
tory, of  different  size  and  date. 

In  the  War  department,  there  are  many  documents  of  personal  and  military  interest. — 
Here  there  is  more  order  than  in  the  Marine  department,  and  the  papers  are  arranged  ac- 
cording to  date. 

In  the  depot  of  this  department,  there  are  fifteen  large  volumes  folio  of  memoires  con- 
cerning Louisiana,  and  the  rivalry  between  France  and  England  in  the  gro  wth  of  their 
colonies.  There  are  other  papers  also,  of  direct  and  indirect  reference  to  Louisiana,  scat- 
tered through  the  volumes  labelled  Canada;  but  of  less  interest  than  those  in  the  Marine. 

There  arc  also,  several  sketches  of  the  territory  and  its  military  capacity. 

The  National  Library  of  the  rue  Richelieu,  contains  several  documents  of  much  interest 
to  Louisiana. 

Leonard — One  volume  of  pieces  under  the  name  of  Leonard,  (Augustin  friar.)  This 
volume  treats  of  the  first  years  of  the  18th  century,  and  generally  upon  the  enterprise  of 
D’Iberville. 

History  of  Louisiana  by  Pericaux — An  interesting  volume  of  two  hundred  pages. — 
(This  has  been  copied  by  Mr.  Mague  of  New  Orleans,  and  I believe  is  now  possessed  by 
the  State.) 

A Journal  of  a voyage  to  Louisiana  by  Bernard  de  la  Harpe. 

There  are  also  some  maps.  In  addition,  there  are  a number  of  volumes  treating  gene- 
rally of  colonial  history,  with  occasional  reference  to  Louisiana. 

In  the  depot  formerly  called  Archives  of  the  Kingdom,  and  consisting  of  documents 
drawn  from  all  the  other  departments,  there  are  some  papers  pertaining  to  Louisiana,  but 
they  are  not  numerous,  and  are  to  be  found  in  the  historical  section.  Also,  some  in  the 
territorial  section. 

In  the  Archives  of  the  Cour  des  Comptes,  there  are  three  large  volumes  pertaining  to  the 
administration  of  the  liidia  Company,  in  which  are  found  many  papers  touching  Louisiana. 
They  extend  from  1723  to  1731.  There  are  seventeen  other  volumes  labelled  Canada, 
but  they  contain  little  of  value. 

In  the  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs,  it  is  difficult  to  say  what  is  the  extent  or  value  of 
the  papers  relating  to  Louisiana.  Admission  into  its  archives  is  rarely  granted.  It  was 


Bureau  of  StatisUcs. 


35 


refusod  by  M.  Guizot  to  the  agent  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society.  He  was  how- 
ever, introduced,  and  carried  back  to  Anaerica  much  valuable  material.  Up  to  the  date 
of  this  letter,  I have  made  no  examination  in  this  department,  but  on  request,  the  following 
sketch  of  its  contents  has  been  prepared,  and  may  bo  relied  on  as  far  as  it  goes. 

There  exist  in  good  condition,  two  volumes  in  folia  of  about  700  pages  each,  entitled 
Louisiana  and  Florida. 

The  documents  in  the  \st  volume,  extend  from  1712  to  1791,  and  treat  principally  of  the 
cesvsion  of  Louisiana  by  France  to  Spain.  One  of  these  documents  dated  Feb,  8th,  1759, 
discusses  the  policy  of  a general  emigration  of  the  colonists  from  Canada  to  Louisiana. — 
Another  dated  Jan.,  7th,  1789,  discusses  in  upwards  of  300  pages  the  policy  of  a retroces- 
sion of  Louisiana  by  Spain  to  France. 

The  2d  volume  embraces  the  history  of  the  retrocession  of  Louisiana,  and  its  ultimate 
transfer  to  the  United  States.  It  contains  letters  from  Bonaparte,  Carnot  and  Talleyrand, 
and  others  of  the  most  eminent  French  statesmen.  Also,  the  correspondence  of  citizens 
Bounce,  Perignon,  De  LaCroix,  Collot,  St.  Cyr,  and  others.  In  addition  to  these  two  vo- 
lumes, there  are  papers  of  much  interest  upon  the  scheme  of  Law,  and  its  influence  in  the 
settlement  and  growth  of  the  colony. 

3,000  pages  would  not  be  too  large  an  estimate  for  the  contents  of  this  department. 

In  conclusion,  to  resume,  there  are 


17  Cartous  in  the  Marine,  averaging  perhaps,  - - 1,000  pages,  17,000 

40  Volumes  of  the  Dispatches  and  Orders  of  the  King,  300  “ 12,000 

3 Volumes  Memoirs,  each  one  about,  - . . 1,000  “ 3,000 

India  Accounts.  ------  - 2,000  “ 2,000 

The  Personal,  Commissions,  &c.,  - - - - 2,000  “ 2,000 

Concessions,  - --  --  --  - 1,000  “ 1,000 

Indirect  Documents,  ------  10,000  “ 10', 000 


46,000 

In  the  National  Library,  rue  Richelieu,  there  are  - - - - 3,000 

Ancient  Archives  of  the  Kingdom, - 200 

Archives  of  the  Cour  des  Comptes, 3,000 

In  the  Ministry  of  War,  . - - - . - 6,000 

Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs. 3,000 


61,200. 

This  is  perhaps  a calculation  rather  large. 

As  to  the  expense  of  having  these  documents  copied,  there  are  three  points  to  be  con- 
sidered. First,  the  payment  for  copies  of  the  documents.  Second,  the  cost  of  the  paper. 
Third,  the  selection  and  revision  and  general  superintendence  of  the  work. 

The  cost  of  copying  may  be  rated  at  10  cents  the  page.  This  is  what  New  York  and 
Massachusetts  paid. 

The  paper  of  the  kind  required  to  copy  on,  will  cost  about  30  francs  the  thousand  pages. 
For  60,000  pages,  say  from  ,^300  to  ^600. 

As  to  the  salary  of  the  persons  who  shall  compile  the  papers  and  direct  the  copyists,  it 
must  depend  on  circumstances,  and  the  merit  of  the  individual.  It  is  difficult  to  assign 
a sum. 

The  labor  of  securing  all  the  documents  will  occupy  two  years,  perhaps  more  time. — 
An  hundred  pages  a day  is  all  that  can  be  properly  reckoned  on,  and  it  is  proper  to  calcu 
late  on  many  delays. 

The  above  estimate  supposes  that  the  State  would  desire  copies  of  every  document 
touching  its  history.  There  are,  however,  many  of  these  unimportant.  Should  a selec- 
tion be  made,  those  of  real  value  would  not  exceed  in  all  35,000  pages. 

The  person  commissioned  to  superintend  this  compilation  should  receive  his  instructions 
from  the  Historical  Society,  and  have  his  commission  signed  by  the  Governor  of  the  State . 
He  would  then  have  every  facility  extended  to  him. 

I need  not  dwell  on  the  importance  of  securing  at  once  the  documents  that  I have 
sketched.  Their  possession,  in  a degree,  involves  the  honor  of  the  State.  They  are  rich 
in  material,  and  will  fully  repay  investigation.  No  one  can  rise  from  their  study  without 
a higher  opinion  of  those  who  first  settled  in  Louisiana.  They  were  like  all  early  colonists, 
influenced  by  varied  motives ; but  a perusal  of  the  reports  made  to  the  home  government, 
shows  that  they  carried  with  them  into  the  forest  much  of  the  romantic  enthusiasm  for 
liberty  that  has  since  characterized  the  French  nation.  They  appear  to  have  been  kind 


3 0112  058790046 


•iC  Btu'caa  of  Sialis/ica. 


and  juHtin  their  cleaiinf>8  with  the  natives.  We  read  no  where  of  cruelty.  They  concili- 
ated when  it  was  po.ssible,  and  their  priests  met  with  success  scarcely  equalled  in  any  other 
.part  of  America. 

^ With  the  hope  that  yon  may  deem  it  consistent  with  your  duty  to  advise  an  appropria- 
tion by  the  approaching^  Assembly  for  securing  the  historical  material  refeiTcd  to  in  thif 
letter, 

'I  am,  with  much  respect, 

Verv  Irulv  yours. 

JOHN  PERKINS,  Jr. 


APPENDIX  NO.  111. 

“ The  Vital  Statistics  of  New  Orleans,”  says  Dr.  Barton,  in  his  able  report  to  the  Ame- 
■yican  Medical  Association,  ** constitute  a problem,  and  an  important  one,  that  has  never 
been  solved.  We  have  to  presume  the  United  States  census  of  1830,  to  be  correct,  that 
of  1840s  the  cause  of  all  the  errors,  we  now  knov^'  was  noS  ; a census  was  made  in  1847-j 
it  was  partially  correct  only ; the  entire  population  almost  certainly  was  not  given,  and 
then  there  were  no  details  of  ages,  &c.,  and,  of  course,  no  basis  for  calculating  the  ave- 
rage age  of  the  livings  so  I have  taken  these  for  1830  as  my  basis,  and  calculated  it  t6 
be  twenty-four  years  one  month.  In  the  census  of  1847,  none  but  strictly  family  resi- 
dents  were  taken  ; the  thousands  that  count  New  Orleans  their  homes,  and  are  occasion- 
ally absent,  were  left  out  entirely.”  Dr.  Barton,  therefore,  adds  5,000  to  the  census  of 
1847,  making  the  number  100,028,  and  supposes  20  to  30,000  floating  population,  belong- 
ing to  the  city,  and  adding  to  its  diseases  and  deaths.  He  then  calculates  (the  mortality 
from  1841  to  1848,  at  1 in  19.32  of  the  population,  an  estimate  of  the  most  mournful  cha- 
racter, if  the  evidence  be  found  satisfactory.  In  1845  the  mortality  was  1 in  33,07.  Dr. 
Barton  adds,  “ I think  I am  entitled  to  the  credit  of  having  rescued  from  oblivion  some 
ten  or  fifteen  years  of  the  records  of  mortality,  which  had  been  surreptitiously  made  away 
with.  I have  collected  now  the  mortality  for  about  forty  years,”  &c.  “ The  actual  mor- 

tality of  the  city,  is  certainly  very  large,  but  then  it  is  evident  from  the  ages  of  those  who 
die,  from  their  short  residence  here,  and  from  their  course  of  life,  not  at  all  adapted  to  th« 
elimale,  that  the  climate,  per  se,  has  less  to  do  with  it  than  other  conditions.” 


